VAUDE_VISUALS

When I was photographing the top of the WTC for Philippe Petit in preparation for the upcoming ‘artistic crime of the century‘ I also wanted to take some photographs that weren’t needed by him in his preparation. I decided to lean over the edge of the tower and look down. This was a very decisive moment to make me realize I wasn’t afraid of heights. I knew before I did this that I did not have this fear but when I looked over the edge and didn’t flinch I was convinced.

Looking Over The Edge of the Tower © 2008 Jim Moore

I was delighted to be able to video tape Jango Edwards’ clown workshop at The Brick Theatre in Williamsburg. It was held Nov. 9th thru the 11th 2009 in association with Jef Johnson’s CLOWN LAB.  I have edited a short excerpt of the workshop and posted it here.  Jango hasn’t been in the US for over 27 years. He was delighted to teach both in New York and Baltimore. He has started the Nouveau Clown Institute in Barcelona and will be having month long workshops there starting in March 2010. Many professional clowns and movement teachers will be doing workshops and performances. Jango started the FESTIVAL OF FOOLS in Amsterdam in 1975. Now Jango’s focus is on the NCI and teaching, performing worldwide. I will be working on the Jango Interview and post it here later next week.

While I was doing some research photography on top of the South tower of the World Trade Center (for his upcoming coup) I got Philippe to hold my camera while I did a handstand on the edge. I wasn’t really afraid of this as I had my handstand down and I am not afraid of heights. It was an amazing moment to be on the NY’s tallest building and be doing a handstand on the edge of the roof. No one was around and it was a serene and tranquil moment. The photographs that I took that day became the documentation that was eventually used in the Oscar winning documentary Man on Wire.

Jim Moore doing handstand on top of the World Trade Center @1974

Francis and Lotte Brunn joined Ringling Bros. show in 1948 when they first came to this country.  They worked the Ringling show for 2 seasons and then went to the Pollack Bros. Circus. Lotte met her future husband at the Pollack Bros. Circus in 1951 and then left Francis with the circus and went off to get married and start their own careers. Here is a picture of Lotte with Ringling clown Emmett Kelly. (Thanks to Michael Chirrick for this!)

Emmett Kelly and Lotte Brunn at Ringling circa 1949. (Photographer Unknown)

In this interview Michael Bongar explains his views on clown, theatre and his creation of the BongarBiz.com empire.

Christopher Lueck of the New York Downtown Clown Revue interviews Michael in the dressing room of the Kraine Theatre.

This monthly show is on the third Monday of every month and presents a wide variety of eccentric and comedic acts that all are derivative from clown. Michael has had years of performing experience and speaks of the art with knowledge and passion.

A couple for the New World Order

This is a variety show for all of you out there that need to see something NEW! The New York Downtown Clown Revue is presented every third Monday of the month at The Kraine Theater on East 4th St. in NYC’s fashionable Lower East Side.  For more information go to The New York Downtown Clown Revue site.

Michael Bongar is well known amongst the clown community because he gets a lot of performers work. His agency aptly called BONGARBIZ has a great reputation for booking some of the most talented and eccentric acts available. Michael shed his suit on Monday night to perform and excerpt from his one-man show MAGIC MIKE. A hysterical sendup of magic gone wrong. The mediocre magician and his delightful lack of awareness is perfectly portrayed by MAGIC MIKE. Check out the New York Downtown Clown Revue web site for next month’s featured performers.

After nearly 30 years in Europe and having established the “Festival of Fools” in Amsterdam in the late 60′s Jango Edwards returned to NY to spread the word of the Nouveau Clown Institute (NCI) which was recently formed in Barcelona, Spain. While in NY Edwards taught a class in conjunction with Jef Johnson’s Clown Lab at The Brick Theater in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It was a delightful excursion into the soul of clown and also technique. Jango invited Nikolai Terentiev to teach pantomime on the last day of the workshop. I was there for 2 of the 3 days and was able to document the workshop with a video and some stills. Here is one of the class after an exercise in minimal costume.

CLOWN: Formulas and Theory Workshop ©2009 Jim Moore

One of the funniest acts I have seen and enjoyed is Chris Allison’s side show freak CONEY ISLAND CHRIS. He mixes the zany attitude of the likes of Jerry Lewis’ nutty professor and Pee Wee Herman with a glass eating, finger in a rat trap, silly costume and hysterical facial gestures Coney Island simple guy trying to learn the ropes of sideshowville. Coney Island Chris made it to the finalist on AMERICA’S GOT TALENT.

©2009 Jim Moore / All Rights Reserved

In the early 50′s a performer coming up the ranks playing with jazz greats and creating his own style of story telling. Lord Buckley. He had appeared on Groucho’s TV show YOU BET YOUR LIFE and created a sensation amongst night club and cabaret attendees. Here is a version of Lord Buckley’s THE NAZZ performed by Rod Harrison from New Mexico at The Lord Buckley Birthday Bash held annually at The Bowery Poetry Club.

The event is produced by the writer of the definitive Lord Buckley bio DIG INFINITY, Oliver Trager.

Video © 2009 by Jim Moore