Cherryhurst House, Houston: phase 1 wrap up. Heading back to New Orleans
Since the beginning of August, I have been in an artist residency here at Cherryhurst House in Houston, TX. It has been a great few months of being able to generate musical ideas in an unfettered manner and with the inspiration of the various artists, architects, photographers, and chefs, that I have been in contact with here. I have had the opportunity to imagine music driven by, being the driving force for, or working in exact unity with all those forms, and have been able to experiment with techniques new to me to make that work out. I have been pleased that initial ideas have been through many transformations in the way that they will be presented and there may be a few more coming.
Today, I'll return to New Orleans for a long stretch to teach composition in the media arts department at NOCCA, as well as, remain involved in the many projects I miss being part of around town. I am really excited about this particular development and can only see great stuff coming out of the experience of being able to give a little back to New Orleans by teaching the younger folks.
The work towards the show here at Cherryhurst will continue, with weekend events featuring compositions and performances leading logically up to the exhibition set here for September 2017.
I have many people to thank here in Texas who are new friends and a kind supportive set of people who have helped me greatly here. Top of the list is Dallas Mcnamara who I have been in part collaborating with since the outset. The curators here, Barbara Levine, and Paige Raimey have been helpful and have in a great way challenged my reasons and directions to help with keeping an air of solidity around here.
I also am grateful to have gotten to know Heather Johnson, the outgoing artist-in-residence, Dan Fergus over at Cafe Brasil, Rachel Rogers, Kim and Lisa Glosserman, Arturo and Lorena, Jefe Abrams and a host of other great people who have made my time in Houston so far such a warm experience.
I am both very sad to leave, and very happy to go back to New Orleans.