Art is a tool that has been used for centuries to push boundaries. From Shakespeare, to the Beatles, to urban graffiti, the creative mind has always yearned to try new things. The Alchemy of Chance, the newest project from the Ambiguous Arts Festivals society, is an interesting example of this innovative creativeness.
“Basically, it’s an interdisciplinary arts experiment,” explains Chandler McMurray-Ives, the event’s organiser. “We selected six really high-calibre artists from the community, who are all incredibly unique in their creation methods, even within their own genres, and then we selected six creative professionals, based on people who created on a daily basis, but aren’t necessarily considered ‘artists.’”
The premise of the Alchemy of Chance is quite unique. Six different kinds of artists will each be paired with a creative professional and then have only two short weeks to create a 10-minute performance. With possible combinations, such as a chef and a puppeteer, a carpenter and a dancer, or a musician and a chemist, there’s no telling what the outcome will be.
“The goal is to stretch the artist by pairing them up with someone who has a different set of skills and completely different practices than them,” says McMurray-Ives, “as well as to stretch the creative professionals by bringing their skills onto a stage, making it a performance, and kind of going beyond what their comfort zone might be. We’re really trying to break down the word ‘artist’ and the idea of performance so that it belongs to everyone.”
Hairdresser Jen Li says that although she’s participated on stage in hair shows before, this will be a completely new experience.
“It’s unique because though I don’t really know what to expect, that’s also why I’m excited,” says Li. “I’m excited about just challenging myself artistically. Doing hair, you can be an artist with it, but at the same time usually you have to keep in mind that it’s somebody’s head of hair you’re doing, and I think it’s going to be so creative and so different, and I’m just excited to be on stage.”
Though Li admits that she’s a bit nervous, she has thrown herself wholeheartedly into the project and says it’s a great opportunity to create something special.
“The whole purpose behind it is connecting artists and creative professionals, and bridging that gap. We just have to have fun with it and be open,” she says. “I’m just going to go with the flow. I’m just going to wing it, and I think it’s all going to depend on my partner’s personality and what our chemistry creates.”
This experience will be unique to both halves of the partnership and organizers and participants are interested to see how the two different types of people work together.
“I think it’s easier for me being an artist than it is from the other side,” says Tim Gosley, a local puppeteer who has appeared on television programs such as Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock. “I have facilitated non-puppeteers creating giant puppets and that was interesting because the designs were a lot more original than if I was working with a professional designer. They weren’t as professional looking, but since the people didn’t have the same design vocabulary some totally original things were able to come out of it. So with these guys I’m hoping they can guide the design process so some totally original things can happen.”
This is precisely the idea that the show was brought about to inspire. Each and every person, performer or professional, will contribute their own special brand of creativity.
“I believe, and Ambiguous Arts believes, and our mandate is that everyone is an artist and creativity flows in the blood,” says McMurray-Ives. “It belongs to every single person and I’m so excited about the fact that there are 12 creative brains churning to create this piece, and I have no idea what’s going to happen!”
The Alchemy Of Chance
Friday, April 4
Metro Theater, 8 pm
ambigarts.com