In 2010 I had a concept in my head one day that I should photograph my favorite subjects (Clowns) without their performance costume and makeup and match it with a performance shot. The ‘Unmask’ shot would be black and white and the performance shot in color. I decided to call it The Clown UnMask. I began shooting in Feb. 2010 with one of the funniest clowns I know and admire. Glen Heroy.
I followed up with many more (almost 50) until I stopped shooting the series in 2016. Here is a comprehensive list of the performers (with links to the original posts) I documented in my ‘hallway’ studio. In the order in which I photographed them. Full post are reached by using the links. Some portrait are provided for visual excitement!
(The wall came down in 2016 so the series was discontinued)
Patrick performing with The Rotten Plantains August 2010
Fred Blin and Patrick de Valette posing for my shot at The Rotten Plantains show last August.
Patrick and Fred are two of the performers that belong to Les Chiche Capon in Paris.
Patrick is a co-founder of Chiche Capon and has worked with them for 6 years and has performed with them all around the world. He studied clown at the School le Samovar, founded by Frank Dinet. He has also worked on clown’s dramaturgy with Alain Gautré, one of the famous masters of clown in France and Europe. He worked also with Philippe Découflé and Cirque du Soleil in ‘Banana Speel’ and for special events.
He is back in town with THE ROTTEN PLANTAIN for ONE NIGHT ONLY.
Just before the show on August 26th I was able to get Patrick and Fred (who are performing in the wildly funny THE ROTTEN PLANTAINS) to sneak into a small alley near the 45 Bleecker St. Theatre (Where the show is presently playing) for a quick and brief interview. It was fun to get them on camera. The show THE ROTTEN PLANTAINS is probably one of the funniest clown ensemble shows I have seen is some time. Talented performers in the group include Claudia Carneiro, Julie Ferrier, Wayne Nelson, Daniel Passer along with Patrick and Fred. Using their skills in clown, mime and absurd theatre they combine to make a potpourri of madness, chaos, and funny hysteria for an evening of enjoyable theatre.
Interview with Patrick de Valette and Fred Blin by Jim Moore from Jim Moore on Vimeo.
Here are a few visual highlights from this past weekends performance of THE ROTTEN PLANTAINS.
A collection of wild and wonderfully funny clowns that put together an evening of insanity and delightfully funny chaos.
Pictured below are the cast members that come from far and near!
Guest Artist this past weekend – Arnaud Maillard & Amy Gordon – Brooklyn NY
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Patrick de Valette and Fred Blin start the show off.
Patrick de Valette and Fred Blin acting out a fantasy.
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Julie Ferrier
Julie’s character is so wrapped up in her discussion of ‘art’.
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Claudio Carneiro
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Patrick de Valette
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Julie Ferrier
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Amy Gordon – GUEST ARTIST
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Arnaud Maillard – GUEST ARTIST
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Julie Ferrier roller skates herself atop of an innocent audience member in a wonderful routine.
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The Rotten Plantain’s cast take a bow!
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The show was an amazing, hysterical, collage of clowns on their day off!
IT will be running again at 45 Bleecker St Theatre starting on August 26th for 4 Performances ONLY!
