SM-ART

Over the last seven years the intellect of artists has becoming increasingly apparent to me.  Now let me preface that with "true artists".  I'm talking about people who create from their very core, heart and soul.  True artists create because if they don't they will explode.  Passionate people with messages, muses, inspirations and emotions.  People who have owned the main art they were born with and then went on to find the other mediums they had the talent to work with that also successfully conveyed their thoughts and feelings.

Musicians, chefs and visual artists tend to also be mathematically adept.  Many will also be interested in history but that subject is also common in all art.  Creators, no matter how inspired, will research their subject and use that history to better flesh out their work.  Of course writers and actors possess a passion for language.  Music, acrobatics, dance, architecture and fine arts include a variety of sciences.  So it's pretty safe to say that true artists are pretty nerdy.  In fact if you look back at your K-12 days, the arts kids and the  smart kids tended to all sit together at the lunch table.  In fact a good number of us were both.

"But Kath' what about currently popular musicians or actors who, in interviews, come off sounding dumber than a box of rocks?"  I say, these are not artists.  These are manufactured products of large corporations.  People who have enough knowledge to read words off a page or follow a producer's directions.  Everything else is left to editors and engineers to clean it up for public consumption.  As far as visual art?  Most of what is in the mainstream is the product of a computer with templates and other people's art.  It's slick. It's bright.  But there is not substance or emotion there.  There is no intellect required.  It's just a higher level of "paint by numbers".

Today a friend of a friend posted a link to a Youtube video that really makes the point of this post.  The young man being interviewed has been called a lot of names.  He has been considered "just another stupid rocker boy" and a lot of other things that he even mentions in this interview.  He is a true artist because he's never let any of that stop him from sharing his emotions.  He has tapped into his other talents.  He has braved some really tough times to make art and share it.  He has been rewarded for his efforts.  He's also been blessed with the ability to speak eloquently about his vision and his journey.  Watch and I think you will agree

Ricky Rebel - a revolution of healing through art

Under the shiny veneer of commercial show business is the larger community of real artists.  These people sing, dance, play and act because it's in their soul.  They can't not do it.  Sometimes one or two of them will break through the ice and make an appearance in the national or even international arena.  This has happened with a few members of the tribe.  Ricky Rebel found his crack in the looking glass with alternative rockers My Chemical Romance in the music video for the first single off their album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.  This video was the first chapter of a story about the Killjoys: Fun Ghoul (Frank Iero), Jetstar (Ray Torro), Kobra Kid (Mikey Way), Party Poison (Gerard Way), Tank Girl (Grace Jeanette), Dr. Deathdefying (Steve Righ of MSI) and Show Pony.  The roller skating, tights and tank wearing, helmet hidden revolutionary was portrayed by Ricky Rebel. 

Ricky had crossed my radar early in my journey into the tribe but then was lost track of as others took my time and attention.  Recently he was back as a strong blip when I learned of his connection to people I have grown close to.  I immediately made contact and we have had some great conversations including the following email interview. Ricky was destined to be a part of the tribe at some point.  He is adventurous, a risk taker, honest and passionate.  I hope you find him as interesting and charming as I do .

If you are in the Los Angeles area he will be playing at Bar Sinister on 6/29.  All the information can be found at the end of this post.   If you can't make it to the show be sure to visit his website where you can listen to his music, watch videos and look for other live performances.My favorite Language I speak is music. Music will always be my number one form of expression. Music is a Vibration. All things exist as energy as particles vibrating together. I try to reach others through music to create higher vibrations with one another.



I know that Ricky is a musician, a dancer, and a stylist. What other languages do you speak?  What was your first art.  Today which is your favorite to speak.

My first art is movement/physical body awareness and control. I learned that at age 7 when I started taking gymnastics classes. I Ranked 13th in the State of California. I had dreams of going to the Olympics, but that changed when I discovered dance and performing. It’s such a different world compared to the strict rules of gymnastics and competing. I prefer the no rules approach. 

I speak the language of healing. Through my music I heal my fans that I call my “Rebels.” I have read some amazing letters from Rebels all around the world that tell me how much my music has touched moved and inspired them. When they feel down they say that they can listen to my music and that it helps them get through the hard times. That’s why I do what I do. I want to heal people. 

My favorite Language I speak is music. Music will always be my number one form of expression. Music is a Vibration. All things exist as energy as particles vibrating together. I try to reach others through music to create higher vibrations with one another. 


What languages do you understand? Why?  Which speak to your heart? Your soul?

I speak the language of Music, Photography, Fashion, Film, and Acting. All of these art forms heal my soul. Film and acting I think are the most influential to me. Every time an amazing artist gets up and performs he or she is essentially acting. Acting is the highest and truest of all the art forms in my opinion. Without the ability to convey a message, tell a story, or become the role, than we are nothing as an artist. Life is acting. Acting is what we do everyday. We choose and create the roles that we play. 


Finally my favorite question...What is the one art that you wish you could create in that you positively suck at? 

Honestly, there are times that I feel like a shitty actor. But that’s only because I know in my heart that I can be great at it. One day I hope I portray a role that blows people minds. At this point, it’s the only art form that I haven’t proven to myself that I excel in. Which is a great thing. It means that I don’t have unrealistic expectations. As an actor. As an artist, that is the best position I feel I can best create in. As an actor I am the opposite of jaded. My heart is 100% open to the possibilities. At times I believe that I am a great actor, at times I don’t, which is cool because a few of my favorite actors are the ones that people agree, “suck.”


You are one of the post-modern gypsies, a member of the tribe.  Did you find them or did they find you?  

I found them so to speak. I was filming a Reality show for MTV about the life of underground Artists and I was looking for other people to get involved with the project. I came across Roxy Contin’s profile. I hit her up and we instantly became friends. She took me under her wing and introduced me to the tribe. She knew that I was friends with Adam Lambert so that helped to make us closer and trust one another. 


We are just starting to see influences and members of the tribe here on the east coast. Your thoughts on SoCal vs NYC arts scenes? 

I am all about Bi Coastal art culture. I believe that it is important for an artist to stay on top of what’s going on in both the SoCal and NY scenes. Both have important contributions to art and fashion. I feel like NYC is a faster tempo then CA though. Over here the weather is too comfortable. It makes us less rushed to survive. In NYC the elements are harsher so the instinct to survive is heightened. I hope to live in both places soon though. I feel like I would thrive in the NY state of mind. Everyone moves too slowly for me here in LA.


What is one thing that you really want people to know about you as a person or an artist?

I want people to know, to feel, and experience the authenticity that runs through all of the work that I do. I write, compose, perform, record, and produce all of my songs. Everything I do comes from an honest place. I have a message, and that is to “Rebel against the Darkness, and shine your light.” I want to be an example of someone who is true to their work, highly successful, and hopefully inspiring others in the process.

Ricky Rebel Live June 29th At Club Bar Sinister 

Bar Sinister located at Boardner's in the B52 Club 
1652 N. Cherokee Avenue, Hollywood, CA  90028 
Phone:  323.462.1934 or 9621
Site:  http://www.barsinister.net/ , myspace.com/barsinister, facebook.com/clubarsinister or twitter.com/clubbarsinister 
Open:  10pm-3am 
Strictly 18 & Over 
Cover:  PLEASE CHECK WEBSITE FOR UPDATED COVER CHARGES
Dress Code:  Gothic, Fetish, Alternative, Upscale or all Black Attire enforced – NO STREET CLOTHES or PICNIC ATTIRE!

For any further information on Ricky or upcoming performances, please check out the newly revamped official website:

Http://www.RickyRebelRocks.com  

Lucent Dossier - A Faerie Tale for the New Era

Somewhere between 2004 and May of 2006 I learned of the existence of a band called Panic! At The Disco.  These teenagers from Las Vegas had a unique sound.  So unique that they not only didn't fit any genre, their album "A Fever You Can Sweat Out" was actually two parts with the first having more of a steam-punky feel and the second part being a little contemporary pop but more complex.  Their lyrics were well beyond their years due to Ryan Ross's inspiration from his roller coaster life.  When it came time to create a video for their first single "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" someone on their artistic team had the brilliance to pair director Shane Drake with the burlesque cirque troupe, Lucent Dossier.  The resulting video is still brilliant today

The beauty and talent of this group intrigued the hell out of me. I watched many a video and TV performance of Panic! At The Disco just to see these magical creatures.  Some times sultry, some times silly, always costumed to catch the eye, Lucent Dossier was the perfect addition to the band's live performances.  When they did their international arena tour "Nothing Rhymes with Circus", Lucent provided more of its members. It was awesome.

Panic! changed everything up with their sophomore album so I didn't get my dose of Lucent Dossier from them any more.  But then I saw an announcement they were going to be part of The Scream Awards. They got their own episode of Top Chef-Just Desserts.  Every so often I would seen them.  I also scoured the internet to find out if they would ever perform in my part of the world...to no avail.  Until this past Fall when they were signed as artists in residence at The Liberty Theater in Manhattan.  

The name of the show was The Lucent Encounter.  I was there for opening night and what an encounter it was.  Besides all the interactive dancing, acrobatics, vaudeville sketches and live mannequin vignettes happening all around me, I was introduced to members of the troupe include one of the costumers.  I saw the results of friend Hans Haveron's airbrush make-up skills. It was possibly the most magical night of my life to that point.

My feature article on Lucent Dossier has been published in the latest issue of FourCulture magazine.  I got to spend almost an hour with Linda Borini in a small sandwich shop just off Columbus Circle one evening and hear her story of becoming part of Lucent Dossier.  She also helped me to finally put the finger on the biggest difference between the New York and SoCal arts scenes and why I had not been able to find a real East Coast tribe to this point.  Then I connected with Dream Rockwell, founder of the troupe.  She had performed that night in New York.  I knew she was there because we had texted while the goon squad outside was giving me shit about letting me in.  Hans had told me about doing her make-up but we never got any face-time. However, even with a lot of miles between us, we had a major connection in that phone conversation.  I won't even call it an interview because we began building a friendship from the very first words. By the end we had discovered yet another spirit sister on this crazy journey. 

Dream gave me treasures that night that opened my eyes and will help me on my quest. 1) Find the point on your arrow.  The compass needle can't help much if its not giving you a definitive direction.  Find the point. 2) claim the freedom you were born with to be your genuine self.  Once you do that you will be truly happy, joyful, at peace. 3) People who are sincerely happy individuals scare the crap out of people trying to follow some social model that they have been taught is "proper".  Taking it another step from my own meditation....free thinkers and doers are what will shine the light on the dark creatures that have been controlling humanity for too long.  That light will reveal them for the humbugs they are and destroy their "power".  Be brave. Be bold. Be you no matter how eccentric, eclectic, outrageous or just plain weird you are.

This summer I will get to spend four whole days with the fae of Lucent Dossier at Lake Skinner in Temcula, CA.  Lightning In A Bottle was the point on Dream's arrow and Lucent is a staple of the festival.  I am so excited to experience them once again but this time in their native habitat.  I can only imagine that it will be a faerie tale come to life. 

We are the dreams
Tangled in your catcher
When you rise from sleep
The beautiful ones
The ones you will carefully
Break the strings to release
Setting us free to play

We'll dance on your bed
And fly through your hair
We sing the songs
That spark your imagination
We give you the colors
To paint your story

We are the faerie tales
Come to life.

KMC 3/13

How the NY tribe rolls

As news started coming out from the 5 boroughs via social networks, I caught the "Dumbo" section of Brooklyn mentioned but as my internet access was on my phone which I was having to charge in my car or by draining what was left of the battery on my laptop, I couldn't do any further research to learn more.  I've known about Galapagos for a couple of years now thanks to a fellow blogger, "Arjan Writes".  I was generally concerned for the club as they are new and are offering a great arts space.

Well, my concerns were addressed in an email from Galapagos yesterday.  They had indeed sustained serious flooding from Sandy.  Furniture was afloat and stage pieces were under water.

But....

But...

Neighbors and friends came to their rescue and the show will go on.  If you're in the area, want some place warm, bright and friendly to come together with fellow Sandy survivors, swing by Galapagos.

http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b384cb9cab0d4daa9c216b315

YOU CAN GET HERE FROM THERE! 4, 5, 6 Trains now FULLY Operational! (More subway info / map below) We Need YOUR help - We're Asking For Your Help: Please buy Tickets to tonight's Floating Kabarette! CLICK HERE to buy tickets We Went From This:  To This - in FOUR Days! Please Buy FK Tickets HERE To Reserve Seats Tables for Election Night Tuesday email us here HOW TO GET HERE IF YOU LIVE IN BROOKLYN: A trains operate between Jay Street/MetroTech and Lefferts Blvd - 12 minute walk to Galapagos F trains operate between Jay Street-MetroTech and Avenue X - 12 Minute Walk to Galapagos R trains operate in Brooklyn between Jay Street-MetroTech and 95th Street making all local stops - 12 minute walk to Galapagos  D trains operate between Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and Bay Parkway making express stops between Pacific Street and 36th Street - 17 minute walk to Galapagos 4, 5, 6 trains FULLY OPPERATIONL! Get off at Borough Hall  HOW TO GET HERE IF YOU LIVE IN MANHATTAN: Take the fantastical 4,5,6 Train - our Manhattan hero train! How to get to us from the 4, 5, 6, A, F, R, N, D,               _______________   HOW ON EARTH DID WE GET FROM THIS: AND THIS: TO THIS IN FOUR DAYS? OVER 80 VOLUNTERS HELPED US REBUILD THE VENUE IN 4 DAYS YES - IN FOUR DAYS! DUMBO PLUCK AND NEIGHBORHOOD LOVE! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED US! MORE PHOTOS TOMORROW! The entire Galapagos family sends warm wishes for your safety and strength in rebuilding your own homes and offices. New Yorkers are strong and we know we will get through this together! We are in the midst of our own effort, as you can see, and we will be back up and running on Saturday.  The entire DUMBO community is pulling together, and yes, there are silver linings to everything. Thank you so much for your support! SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT BUY TICKETS HERE! -The Galapagos Team

West meets East-Lucent Dossier is coming to New York

Some wonderful "friends I haven't met yet" are coming to Manhattan and are setting up shop at The Liberty Theater in Times Square. Lucent Dossier Experience have been invited to make the trek from Los Angeles to be "artists in residence" at the recently restored Liberty Theater just off Times Square.  They are kicking off this residency this weekend.  What better way to start Halloween than with this band of silly, crazy, talented, creative performers?  Their costumes may be the best ones in the house.


Who are Lucent Dossier you ask?  Well, if you are/were a fan of Panic! at The Disco or the Dresden Dolls or have attended Coachella you probably know.  If your a TV viewer who has watched the Grammys, the Scream Awards or Top Chef Just Desserts last seaon, you may have seen the cirque troupe They've also performed with Motley Crue, Aerosmith and The Black Eyed Peas.

Lucent Dossier was founded by Dream Rockwell and first performed on New Year's Eve of 2004.  The Los Angeles based troupe is the epitome of post-modern gypsies-traveling performers who create with what is around them.  Wild costumes from repurposed materials, music concocted from instruments and electronic gear members brought with them.  In Dream's own words, "We are curators of environmental experiences and we do it our way. We're a little bent, we're deeply sensual and we love to have fun. The fashion or style of Lucent that people often talk about is super important to us, just 'cause it's imaginative and takes us all on a journey. The technique of our craft, which sort of falls into the realm of carnival or cirque arts is all part of it, but at the end of the day we are most interested in human alchemy.

As for the New York "Encounter specifically Dream went on to say, "I think that what's important about the NYC Lucent Encounter is that people get ready to experience something new. We are creating a little oasis for people to come into and dance and get silly, express themselves, feel a kind of unique connection with other beings, dress wild, be free. We're excited to create a space for people to come into and explore, to find new ways of relating to other humans, to find freedom of expression in all it's forms, a place to celebrate the uniqueness that is inside each one of us, a place to just get your wiggle out! Life can be hard, earth is a tough venue but when we come together in celebration it makes it all worth it, it makes it easier to get through the tough times. We're excited to build community in NY and play with new friends."

As for the Liberty Theater, this renovation and reopening is just another wonderful addition to the make-over Times Square has been experiencing for the past two decades.  The project has been the love-child of Times Square Hospitality Group.  They have not only given the old theater a face lift, they have added the option to provide catered tabled events.  The house can hold up to 1500 people now and the entire lighting and sound system has been upgraded to state of the art including projection equipment.  The design was with the intent to create a new and needed option to New York City nightlife.  Ray Trosa, co-founder of TSHG, who had seen Lucent Dossier perform, believes the cirque is a perfect match for this venue.

Lucent Dossier is managed by Andrew Cohen of Art House Live. "Lucent Encounter" is produced by Lucent Dossier and Jody Levy of Stitch Experience Design.  To purchase tickets and learn more about "Lucent Encounter" and the Liberty Theater click here.

The Art of Sailing - A New Life for Sloop Providence by Nichole Raab — Kickstarter

Now THIS is a Kickstarter that NEEDS funding.  As a New Englander and an art lover, this has the potential to be an amazing outlet for artists and patrons.  It is also a floating home to a tribe, a tribe that is finding and encouraging other gypsies along its route.  It also takes fellow tinkers and bohemians aboard to travel with them.

This is, seriously, a project that more than deserves funding.  It will preserve a key piece of New England's history, while providing a home to all forms of artisans and giving them a platform to share their talents with you.

As with any Kickstarter you can give as little as a dollar and still receive a return on your investment so please help this project to meet its goal.

Thank you.

The Art of Sailing - A New Life for Sloop Providence by Nichole Raab — Kickstarter:

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Ideat Village, New Haven, CT 6/16-7/1

Ideat Village:

Better late that never.  You still have a few days to enjoy this alternative arts festival that runs in tandem with the larger (more corporate) Arts & Ideas Fest.  THIS is where you will find the real arts.

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Fourculture Magazine

Fourculture Magazine:

Here is a brand new arts zine that features members of "the tribe" from around the U.S. and Europe.  This mag' covers the four pillars of art and takes you outside the box of current mediocrity.  The stories are intriguing and show sides of artists not usually represented in interviews or features.  Fourculture writers like to get inside the hearts and heads of creators.

Yes, I'm a little biased about the publications as it is a new outlet for my writing and a new place for me to introduce the world to some of the special people that cross my path. In the debut issue you will find an interview with Hans Haveron about his mural at Facebook and some of the work he does for the DoArt Foundation.  Then there's a feature on Calling All Astronauts which even I learned from.  I was assigned this article and went in cold.  Since then I've spent time on Twitter getting to know Dave and his musical inspirations and feelings about the state of the industry.

Please check it out.  Leave comments.  Subscribe.  Next month I have a feature on AlexanderDcD who is now one of the most complex street artists I've connected with.

Open publication - Free publishing - More alternative

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Stop! Look! Learn! Move forward - Cassidy Haley

Photo: Sunshine Rebel Records

 It’s been almost two years since I first interviewed Cassidy Haley.  Since then he and I have both come a long way and learned a lot.  For me it was doing verbal interviews instead of by email.  I now provide myself and my readers results that are more connected and offer a much wider range of motion.

As for Cassidy's life and career lessons?  The attention he initially received in the beginning, set off more of an explosion rather than just sparking his ambition and creativity.  With offers of management, promotion, etc. he immediately saw this huge picture of national tours, album releases and big productions.  However, he learned quickly that it wasn’t that easy.

My first question was, “what have you learned?”

CH: I learned to take my time. I don’t need to be where I want to be right now.  It is better to be me, where I am right now and take small steps.

I’ve learned that, basically, my grand vision of what I want to see happen is my best asset but it is also my worst enemy because sometimes I lose sight of where I am right now. I’m thinking about a huge stadium concert with fifteen back-up dancers and ten costume changes instead of about getting thirty people to my next show.  So now the 'grand vision' is kept more in check."

Cassidy went on and broke the explanation down further.  “To become a great artist you need that grand vision of where you want to go so it’s not a bad thing.  It’s just that you have to be really aware that it can put you in the fantasy of where you want to be which then distracts you from where you are”.  It was very clear already in our conversation that he has adjusted his focus to a sharper point.

From there I went back to our first interview where I was introducing people to the many facets of this incredibly creative person.  Does he still design clothes, draw, or do performance art?

CH:  Right now I’m really honing in on the musical craft.  I’ve set aside the clothing company, the graphic novel,  and am zeroing in on the music.  Of course I couldn’t be satisfied with one facet of music so I am creating three different live performances.  They include all the same songs but each is styled for a different audiences.  The rock & roll band of Cassidy Haley and The Sunshine Rebels remains.  Then there is the new ‘boy band’ The Mixtape Project which caters more to a queer audience with choreography and very pop orientation.  For the acoustic angle there are performances of either just myself solo on guitar or piano or may occasionally include other artists with acoustic instruments. “

Apparently there is a fourth performance option that Haley went on to explain. 

CH:    "There is a solo show with a more theatrical tinge that includes costumes for nightclubs and the underground scene." 

Cassidy doesn’t liked being boxed in by styles or genres.  For him, even though it may be the same story, there are many ways to tell it.  Sometimes it needs to be resculpted to speak a different audience.  Still a thru-line is there in that they are all his songs.

“Smart art” is risky though, especially in the music business’s current state as far as money goes.  Cassidy is yet another musician who has taken advantage of Kickstarter.  This program offers anyone from fan to investor the opportunity to work directly with artists. 

CH:  “It (Kickstarter) allows me to take my own risks and for my fans to take those risks with me." 

Over the last two years I’ve embraced my music career whole-heartedly.  There was so much to be learned and now I have experience to produce an album, promote an album and release an album in a way that will take me a lot farther.  The Fool was a great album but I want to reach a larger audience with The Lovers and I believe I have the tools to accomplish that now.

Good things that came from Round One of Haley’s venture into his music career were the recognition of his music videos by large media outlets such as Logo TV and AfterElton.  Logo had Whiskey In Churches in rotation for many months.  I asked, based on the insanely high quality of the production of those videos, if that notice got him any calls to work as a production designer, set artist, location scout or director.

CH:  Thankfully no.  Those were not areas I wanted to work in.  They did, however, help to grow my fanbase though.

Videos are a critical part of Cassidy’s concept for all of his music.

CH:  “Every video starts with my vision and then I’m fortunate to be able to bring in very talented people who work for practically nothing to produce videos that I’m extremely proud of and that can stand up to any major artists' videos and do it on a shoe-string budget.  I would make music videos all day long if time and money would allow.  Every song I’ve written I have a music video in my head for.  If I could I would make all those videos because I feel that the visual is integral to the story of the song.   The world is multi-media.  It’s not limited.  So I want to tell the story in every way possible and use every sense that I can.”

Based on the fact that Haley has been putting out a steady stream of songs over the past two years, I wanted to know if he thinks he’ll ever run out of inspirations or lose touch with his muses.

CH:  “No.  The biggest inspiration I have is the experience of life.  When I look deeper into smaller independent artists, there is so much going on and new artists coming out every day.  I’m so encouraged by what I am seeing and hearing, really interesting new things.  For me songwriting is a way I manage my emotional state.  I’m so crazy and such a dramatic person.  I’ll never run out of material.  I’ll spend my whole life processing and trying to evolve as a person and be writing songs the whole time.”

Cassidy did two performances over the Labor Day Weekend to promote his Kickstarter project for “The Lovers”.  On September 2, with The Sunshine Rebels, he performed at The Mint.  On September 5^th  he did a theatrical interpretation of the new single “Champagne or Suicide” in San Francisco.  September 12^th is an acoustic show at Bar Lubitsch.

You can learn more about Cassidy at www.cassidyhaley.com, keep track of his upcoming performances at http://cassidyhaley.com/events/event/listUpcoming, and contribute to his Kickstarter at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cassidyhaley/the-lovers .  Listen to the music at http://cassidyhaley1.bandcamp.com/ then buy it at http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/cassidy-haley/id323191139

Cassidy Haley is also connected on all your favorite social networking options:

http://www.facebook.com/cassidymusic

http://twitter.com/#!/cassidyhaley

http://www.youtube.com/user/cassidyhaley

I owe Cassidy a big apology for not getting this posted in time to promote the 9/2 and 9/5 shows.  Life got in the way and then came Irene who knocked out my power for two days.  I hope anyone in the Los Angeles area that is available can make it to the 9/12 performance.  

Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade - 7/1-2/2011

 

Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade www.labyrinthmasquerade.com

Company Overview	The LOJ Fantasy Masquerade Ball is a weekend of enchantment. Inspiration and fantasy meld under mask and cloak where nobles dance in the Faerie Court and legends take precious breath. Here is where our dreams are born. . .The Labyrinth The 14th annual LOJ Masquerade Ball will be held on July 1st and 2nd, 2011, and this year, we have a larger realm to explore. The Magnificent Park Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, a fully restored historical venue for two incredible nights of magic and enchantment, welcomes the Masquerade with a bright new grandeur.
Description	The Labyrinth of Jareth is a Masquerade Ball based on Venetian tradition, Fantasy Stories, Celtic faerie and goblin lore, and stories of fantasy and wonder. Lost within the borders of chaos and light, nobles dance among the Fey while goblins wait with hungry eyes in the wings of their court. Some of the most amazing fantasy artists, costumers and special effects crews participate in bringing a diverse host of creatures and mythologies alive each year.
General Information	This Masquerade is one of the few classical events open to ANYONE who has dreamed of a surrealistic fantasy fading into a single night of dance and revelry. Music and visuals heighten your senses as the night shields the Goblin Court and the chambers surrounding it. . . Celebrating our the Labyrinth masquerade and pooling together all that we've learned, the artists of Sypher Studios continue to proudly offer this night to those with the imagination and heart to enjoy it.

Website	http://www.labyrinthmasquerade.com