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ARTISTS

SATELLITE TRIBECA SHOW

MAY 9 – 22 / 2024

An arts spectacle. Live music, dance, film, spoken word and visual artists Kevin Draper and Lora Robertson. Two weeks in Tribeca, May 9 – 21/2024. Satellite Collective presents Satellite Tribeca, 101 Reade St., Tribeca, New York

Satellite brings the athletic performance of their performing arts into a gallery space and brings along two giant mascot blimps.

SITE SPECIFIC DANCE

BODYSONNET’S “please come alone” created and performed live by Moscelyne ParkeHarrison and Mio Ishikawa
A series of solo dance performances exploring what it means to be alone and to come together.

SPOKEN WORD w/PIANO AND ACCORDION BY STELTH ULVANG OF THE LUMINEERS

Kevin Draper and Lora Robertson and New York premiere of Sad Blimp Twins
Draper shows giant prints on paper and canvas created with aerospace software.
Robertson shows pre-Raphealite inspirations in equisitely lit digital tableux and full body portraits.

SPOKEN WORD w/PIANO AND ACCORDION BY STELTH ULVANG OF THE LUMINEERS

NYC Debut UPSTREAM w/creator-performers Will Healy and George Meyer
Stelth Ulvang premieres “The Heartbeats of Stars, In Which Aliens Love Louis Armstrong,” inspired by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan’s data capture of love that left our galaxy on Voyager’s gold record. This performance is a meditation on the many orbits in two lives, and the many points of intersection between them that may seem chaotic but translate in ways that can be shared across sound, music, and story, as a fabric of meaning with a common language of wavelengths.
And 2023 Leonard Bernstein Award Winner Will Healy debuts Violin-Piano duo Upstream with George Meyer, performing a live program of co-compositions for piano, cello, viola, violin, drawing from bluegrass, hip-hop, and jazz.

BALLET SCORE FOR STRINGS PREMIERE & NEW INDIE CLASSICAL

New York Premiere of “Liar Lear King” ballet score for strings by Ellis Ludwig-Leone. Performed live, with a perfomance of his “Past Life” for violin, cello, and piano.
And three compositions by Will Healy, 2023 Leonard Bernstein Award Winner and Founder, SHOUTHOUSE. “Root Position”, “Chimes”, “Mariners” performed live with violin, viola, cello, and piano.

FILMMAKER’S SYMPOSIUM

Filmmaker’s Symposium: “Adventures in Film Funding” and a Sneak Preview of “Liar Lear King” Animated Short
The toughest, wildest, and least talked-about challenge of independent filmmaking is finding the money.

ART PANEL w/FILM AND LIVE BALLET

An arts discussion, “The New York of Gordon Matta-Clark: Alive in the City Today” How can engaging in a dialogue with an artist of the past inspire new work that addresses our present moment? Hosted by Jessamyn Fiore, Co-Director, Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark, and Paul Amenta, Founder, SITE:LAB. With Feature Performance: “Central Park, Earlier In Time,” choreography by Norbert De La Cruz III, score by Aaron Severini, visuals by Kevin Draper in collaboration with the Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark. Registration required.

SATELLITE TRIBECA

ART, FILM, DANCE, MUSIC, WORD

Kevin Draper’s “The Cartoon Before The Movie” features giant prints on paper and canvas created with aerospace 3D software and innovative hand printing techniques. Beginning with nostalgic imagery of an older New York, its vision looks out toward space, along the avenues of Central Park and the sidewalks of Park Avenue, and sees a future of artificial intelligence and buildings seeking autonomy. Images feature bold industrial colors and a unique, expressionistic use of the architectural drafting language.

“please come alone” is a series of solo dance performances exploring what it means to be alone and to come together. Performers explore their artistic and narrative values as they devise movement solos. From creator-performers Moscelyne ParkeHarrison and Mio Ishikawa of BODYSONNET, the work was originally performed in The Berkshires, MA, and workshopped at Yale University with Dramaturg Hannah Gellman.

Lora Robertson’s show “Agony In The Scrub Pines” features large, complex photographic compositions reproduced on smooth sheet metal. Robertson works with digital cameras produced as part of the Hubble telescope program, and the intense focus on color and light is almost pre-Raphaelite in complexity. With her digital tools Robertson translates the naturalistic settings and historical lighting techniques into photographs that are easily mistaken for paintings until a closer view shows how these have been brought into the present with a wily eye for metaphor and visual easter eggs.

“Sad Blimp Twins” is a pair of forty foot long blimps coming to New York for the first time as Satellite’s official mascots. Sad Blimp Twins are a pair of aerostats designed to be Satellite Collective’s mascots. They first flew on the lawn of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and will premiere in New York inside the gallery at 101 Reade Street. At full inflation, the blimps are fourteen feet in diameter and nearly forty feet long. Designed by Kevin Draper, they act as reminders of distant technologies of observation. Satellite intends to continue development of Sad Blimp Twins and their use as mobile cinema screens.

LIAR LEAR KING

INTER-DISCIPLINE DANCE + SOUNDBED + CHAMBER POP + SHORT FILM + ANIMATION + PROJECTION

Mercy is gone missing but the cameras never stop rolling. Dramas cannot therefore stop unfolding. LIAR LEAR KING is a multi-stage, multi-form work directly facing the impact of narcissism and bullying on our society. It fuses dance, short film, visual art, live music, opera, and spoken word into a dynamic experience centered by dance and driven by story. LIAR LEAR KING is an adaptation of King Lear set in New York, 1972. The story is focused not on King Lear and his tragedy, but on Cordelia his daughter, and her epic journey as she becomes a force who can mount an invasion of her own country, only to die at the hands of her own sisters. In the social and political environment of the United States, this theme resonates. LIAR LEAR KING is an organizational work, producing a sum of intellectual property that functions outdoors, onstage, online, and via music and spoken word, with shared creator’s rights and control. This is a model which performing artists are perfecting in the post-COVID world. This multidisciplinary work is expressly designed to be experienced in alternate channels by those differently abled in sight or hearing, or ability to physically access the performance. The nature of the work, and how it impacts the audience, is dependent on the abilities through which it is experienced.

DIRECTOR Kevin Draper
CO-DIRECTOR Phillip Stoddard, James Sofranko
WRITING TEAM Tamar Charney (Lead), Nikhil Melnechuk, Kevin Draper, Lora Robertson, Stelth Ulvang, Danielle Rowe
CHOREOGRAPHER Danielle Rowe
BALLET COMPOSER Ellis Ludwig-Leone
MOVIE COMPOSER Baile and Ellis Ludwig-Leone
FILMMAKER Lora Robertson
STORYBOARD ARTIST Kevin Draper
WEB ACCESS INNOVATION Daniel Talsky
PREMIERED BY Grand Rapids Ballet
Produced by Kevin Draper and Lora Robertson

SAD BLIMP

LIVING SCULPTURE, FLYING VIDEO SCREEN, SAD BLIMP WITH LIVESTREAM WORLD WAR I OBSERVATION BLIMPS + MUSIC + LIGHT + WORDS

SAD BLIMP and SAD BLIMP ROCKET are up at ArtPrize 2022. SAD BLIMP ROCKET at AH-NAB-AWEN Park / Fri, Sept. 23 – SAD BLIMP TV will be projected on SAD BLIMP ROCKET by mobile projectors at 8pm / Sat, Sept. – SAD BLIMP ROCKET will fly from 11am-1pm SAD BLIMP at ROSA PARKS CIRCLE / Sat, Sept. 24 – SAD BLIMP will fly while the Grand Rapids Ballet premieres excerpts from the new collaborative ballet with Satellite Collective, “Liar Lear King” and 5pm and 7pm with night projection to follow Kevin Draper, with Satellite Collective, would like to propose the installation of a 40 foot long aerostat hovering thirty feet above the ground acting as a cinema screen during the night, and a silent observer during the day. We intend to premiere a series of film and visual work on this canvas. The aerostat is nicknamed SAD BLIMP. It is Satellite’s intention for this world premiere to be the first point on a long journey, as the aerostat has been engineered to be an aerospace grade installation, with the assistance of military engineers and input from Macy’s balloon makers. We intend this idea to grow, and maybe one day, be hanging out in space for tourists. Satellite Blimp will bring the silent witness of ancient observation blimps to the waterways of New York, bearing witness in ground projections and real time performances on these giant canvases.

ARCHITECT Kevin Draper
COMPOSER Stelth Ulvang
FILM MAKER Lora Robertson
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Kevin Draper

Satellite’s last pre-Covid live performance before a major pivot to online was Echo & Narcissus, a work scored by Aaron Severini with assistance of a generous grant from New Music USA. The work was ambitious in scope and allowed us to build an entire ensemble of national and local musicians with ShoutHouse, led by Will Healy, as the music was written as jazz for a chamber orchestra. The impact of this in the musical community of Brooklyn was bracing — the working groups went on afterward to collaborate on several spin off projects. In this way, Satellite also supports musicians and composers indirectly by building strong networks to foster further collaborations.

ECHO & NARCISSUS 2020

INTER-DISCIPLINE MUSIC + LIGHT + STORY + DANCE + FILM + OPERA

Echo & Narcissus will engage original music, live chamber performance, visual art, ballet, digital multimedia, opera, and lighting design. The ambition of the project’s scope is matched by the deftness of its team. Had its debut at Brooklyn Academy of Music September, 2018. Satellite Collective received a Citation for achievement in the arts from the Borough of Brooklyn. Kevin Draper, Artistic Director, also received a Citation for achievement in the arts from the Borough of Brooklyn. Echo & Narcissus will be the 17th interdisciplinary performance work by Satellite Collective since its founding eight years ago. Illuminate the unrest and discord of our contemporary political moment. Echo and Narcissus (full performance synopsis): Narcissus, the forceful one, enters, making calls like a hunter. Then she, Echo, the graceful, refined one enters. He is primal, almost feral; she is charming. He is smitten and calls her to him; a heated flirtation begins. Her friends seem skeptical; they enter a vibrant tableau. She wants to go to him; her protective friend tries to deter her, but is unsuccessful. Narcissus interacts with her peers but tangles with her protective friend. In a filmed interlude, we witness Narcissus’ violence. The conflict escalates further between Narcissus and Echo’s protective friend. Echo discovers them fighting and gets between them. She is pulled by their conflicting forces, wanting both. For now, she goes with Narcissus. We see the conflict playing out inside her friends. Then, a horrible incident, the death of Echo’s friend; Narcissus seems responsible. As the others mourn, Narcissus is no longer welcome. Echo is engulfed in a chaos of grief. Narcissus pleads with her to speak to the police on his behalf, “it was an accident.” She knows it was not; Narcissus’ violence ended her friend, and she is now unable to walk. She has been disillusioned. Echo finds healing through the support of her friends.

DIRECTOR & LIBRETTIST Philip Stoddard
WRITER Kevin Draper
COMPOSER Aaron Severini
CHOREOGRAPHER Norbert De La Cruz III
FILM MAKER Lora Robertson
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Kevin Draper
PROJECTION DESIGNER Simon Harding

TWO

INTERDISCIPLINARY DANCE DANCE + MUSIC + EMBEDDED IMAGERY

This collaboration will explore the entanglement of space, human relationship and image. A score by an accomplished New York City Ballet dancer interacts with intensely personal choreography by a young choreographer from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in a set that unfolds in imagery as the work proceeds. Buried within is a silent libretto, a story of those who would trade their future for their impossible past.

CHOREOGRAPHY Marcus Willis
SCORE Aaron Severini
VISUAL DESIGN Kevin Draper
LIGHTING Stirling Baker
STORY Kevin Draper

GRAN JERICHO

EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM SHORT FILM + MUSIC + SILENT LIBRETTO + ANIMATION

This collaboration will explore the connection between heroism that is real and heroism that is publicity in an environment where faith has grown weak and seen its structures dismantled.

DIRECTOR Lora Robertson
SCORE Stelth Ulvang
VISUAL DESIGN Kevin Draper
LIGHTING Stirling Baker
STORY Kevin Draper
ANIMATION Lora Robertson

PHONE MESSAGE

INTERDISCIPLINARY DANCE DANCE + MUSIC + LOOPVOICE
This collaboration will explore the posthuman condition of individuality and a new musical process of tone overlays that makes the string instrument sound like a human voice.

CHOREOGRAPHER Devin Alberda
SCORE Richie Greene
VISUAL DESIGN Kevin Draper
LIGHTING Stirling Baker

WORD

SPOKEN WORD PAIRING + EMBEDDED INDUSTRY

This collaboration will explore the need for invocation as two men with two voices speak.

PERFORMERS Yuval David and Nikhil
WRITERS Kevin Draper, Nikhil
VISUAL DESIGN Kevin Draper
LIGHTING Stirling Baker

INTERVENTION

ARCHITECTURAL RELIC

This collaboration will explore the presence of the architectural relic.

VISUAL ARTIST Site : Lab
LIGHTING Stirling Baker

A PAIR OF IDEAL LANDSCAPES

INTERDISCIPLINARY DANCE DANCE + SHORT FILM + ORIGINAL SCORE

This collaboration explores the entanglement of live and recorded timelines with dancers on both the stage and screen. the artists have taken the dream of simultaneity as their inspiration – the intimacy of human meaning within the land of complexity we all inhabit

SHORT FILM Lora Robertson
SCORE Richie Green
CHOREOGRAPHY Esme Boyce
LIGHTING Brandon Stirling Baker

EDIE LEAVES TWICE

EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM SHORT FILM + LIBRETTO + ORIGINAL SCORE

Edie Leaves Twice is the second in the Satellite Collective series of short films – the story of a young woman leaving her home twice – once as she leaves her mother, and again when she must return to get her child.

STORY Kevin Draper
STOP MOTION ANIMATION Lora Robertson
SCORE Ellis Ludwig – Leone

WALLS

INTERDISCIPLINARY DANCE DANCE + MULTIMEDIA + ORIGINAL SCORE

This collaboration explores human struggle and entanglement though use of athletic movement, and a full architectural grasp of the stage space.

CHOREOGRAPHY Manuel Vignoulle
MULTIMEDIA Kevin Draper
LIGHTING Brandon Stirling Baker
SCORE Ellis Ludwig – Leone

INDIVIDUATE

INTERDISCIPLINARY DANCE BALLET + STRINGS AND ELECTRIC GUITAR

A new ballet that explores the edge of post human gender – and playfully engages a little marxism.

CHOREOGRAPHY Devin Alberda
SCORE Nick Jaina

I CAN HELP YOU

SPOKEN WORD POETRY + SOUNDSCAPE

WATER

MUSIC FOR CONSIDERATION SOLO INSTRUMENTAL + WIT

A solo instrumental composed with expectations of bringing a self deprecating wit, historical reference and emotional coloration to the audience for just a brief time.

COMPOSITION David Moss
IMAGERY Kevin Draper

EMERGENCE

MULTIDISCIPLINARY DANCE DANCE + SHORT FILM + ORIGINAL SCORE

The unsettling of Spring grounds inspires this piece. 4 dancers and mobile projection.

TWIN STAR EVENT

EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM ANIMATED FILM + LIBRETTO + ORIGINAL SCORE

A short film that tells the story of Apollo and the birth of his sister. Scored to an experimental quintet by Ellis Ludwig-Leone.

RITUALS

MULTIDISCIPLINARY DANCE DANCE + MULTIMEDIA + ORIGINAL SCORE

A dance for six, with multimedia. “Ritual” dives into the volcanic beginnings of families.

EXPERIMENTAL SPOKEN WORLD
POETRY + SOUNDSCAPE + MULTIMEDIA

SATELLITE BALLET & COLLECTIVE

WAREHOUSE UNDER THE HUDSON

MULTIDISCIPLINARY BALLET BALLET + MULTIMEDIA + LIBRETTO + ORIGINAL SCORE

EPISTASIS

MULTIDISCIPLINARY BALLET BALLET + MULTIMEDIA + ORIGINAL SCORE + SILENT LIBRETTO

PROGRESS

MULTIDISCIPLINARY BALLET BALLET + MULTIMEDIA + ORIGINAL SCORE + LIBRETTO

COSMONAUT

SONG CYCLE MULTIMEDIA + ORIGINAL SCORE AND LYRICS

THIEF

SONG CYCLE MULTIMEDIA + ORIGINAL SCORE AND LYRICS

A thief of memories considers his love for a woman, how he might be helpful to her, and how he might convince her to trade her future for the wonderful past he has collected behind her.

STORY Kevin Draper
LYRICS Nick Jaina
MULTIMEDIA Kevin Draper and Lora Robertson
SCORE Nick Jaina