The Artist’s Life: A Free Jazz Opera” workshop by George Herms

Press Release by: liza simone

Venue: Phantom Galleries LA Beverly Hills (Los Angeles)

August 18, 25 -

“Opera Workshop” is the umbrella title of two blended, process-based installations that set out to develop ideas and create a zone of play, flexibility, and collaboration in the heart of a busy commerce district. “Opera Workshop” consists of two projects: *”Amaze,” by Farmlab Team; and *”The Artist’s Life: A Free Jazz Opera” workshop by George Herms Dates & Hours: August 11-August 31, 2007; Thurs-Sat, 12-5pm, and by appointment *August 11 @7-10pm: Opening Reception *August 18 @ 7-9pm: Free Jazz Opera workshop performance by George Herms & jazz musicians Open to the Public. *August 25 @ 10pm: Free Jazz Opera performance by George Herms & jazz musicians Open to the Public. August 13, 14, 17 Workshops RSVP required for these dates. Liza@PhantomGalleriesLA.com

MORE ABOUT WORKSHOP ON AUGUST 18, 2007 @ 7-9PM On this evening, Herms and musicians will workshop, "Act Two: Away." Jazz musicians joining Herms on 8/25 are: Roberto Miranda (bass), Bobbie Bradford (cornet), Vinnie Golia (reeds), Clayton Cameron (drums), Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (viola) Diana Briscoe (vocals) MORE ABOUT WORKSHOP ON AUGUST 25, 2007 @ 10PM On this evening, Herms and musicians will workshop, "Act One, Scene One: A Sculptor's Studio," a salute to john Coltrane. A spiral staircase will be elevated, and a large spherical buoy played. Jazz musicians joining Herms on 8/25 are: Theo Saunders (piano), Adar Lawrence (tenor sax); Henry "The Skipper" Franklin (bass); Ramon Banda (drums); David Dalston (trombone). Levitation of the spiral staircase is courtesy of Bill Gray. MORE ABOUT "AMAZE" of the Farmlab team have set about creating, "AMAZE." This experimental labyrinth is a zone of play, flexibility, and collaboration located in the heart of a renowned commerce district where passers-by are offered constant opportunities to consume, but far fewer to build and make. Utilizing a palette of salvaged materials (steel rods, telephone wire, kimonos, etc.), and inspired by the assemblage work and recycling ethos of George Herms – himself a recent Farmlab artist-in-residence – Farmlab team members have since mid-July been working to transform the large, ground-floor lobby area of this former bank building. AMAZE aims to explore the idea of collaborative endeavors as the result of individual acts. Rather than decide every move together, Herms and Farmlab build separately, in different sections of the venue. The end result is a loose framework that likely – or not – will fit together. Farmlab is a collective dedicated to the preservation and perpetuity of living things. More info @ www.farmlab.org

MORE ABOUT PHANTOM GALLERIES LA Phantom Galleries LA is a Los Angeles County-based organization that transforms unoccupied storefronts and spaces into temporary art galleries. Exhibits are curated by local arts organizations, Los Angeles-based galleries, independent curators, and Los Angeles-based artists. The project gives artists an opportunity to exhibit their work, while promoting the creative community to a broader audience and keeping the area looking vital and culturally exciting. The spaces are lit and on view 24 hours a day. Phantom Galleries offers a special thank you to the City of Beverly Hills Economic Development Office for their continued support and assistance in launching the Beverly Hills Phantom Galleries LA program. "In Beverly Hills we believe that a vital economy needs an active art and cultural core." – Alison Maxwell, Director of Economic Development and Marketing for the City. For more about the City's Public Art Program, log onto www.beverlyhills.org.

For more information: http://www.PhantomGalleriesLA.com

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