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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Moving Drawings

In the summer of 2015, while taking a break from creating bottle cap tapestries to focus on some dance and theater projects, I returned to a once daily habit of drawing, producing dozens of small artworks on paper filled with colorful abstract figures.

A photo posted by Emma Cotter (@rettocamme) on

After filling an entire sketchbook, I began experimenting with cutting similar drawings out and creating small hanging paper sculptures. I found these pieces could be drastically altered by lighting and therefore difficult to truly capture. Here is one of my first such creations, back lit by natural light on the left and front lit by artificial light on the right:


Next I began to explore motion possibilities in order to fully take advantage of changing light and shadow angles. I used combinations of wire, thread, and fishing line to suspend elements, balancing them with various found objects such as bottle caps and small tree branches. Being very light weight, they are gently put into motion by cross breezes or persons moving nearby, and can be more steadily controlled by a strategically placed fan. To date, I have completed about one dozen structurally diverse mobiles and find them as difficult to document as dance pieces. This short video montage is an attempt to convey how I personally experience them. Musical accompaniment courtesy of my collaborators at Loopstock (aka composers John Bollinger and Jordan McLean).


Click Here for additional stills and video clips on Flickr









Thursday, June 11, 2015

RETTOCAMME at Williamsburg Walks


Williamsburg Walks scheduling change: RETTOCAMME is now performing Sunday, June 14th (all Saturday performance and action art cancelled due to inclement weather forecast). RETTOCAMME is now scheduled to be on the Triskelion Arts sod stage at North 10th from 2:35 - 3 pm. and doing intermittent roaming performances along Bedford from 1-4 pm.


"a green flash fades" concept, bottle cap tapestry, photo by Emma Cotter


Wednesday, June 3, 2015

a green flash fades (working title)

Last weekend, RETTOCAMME returned to the GARNER Arts Festival for the third time (previous appearances in 2010 and 2011) at the invitation of curator Jonathan Shorr.

On both days of the festival RETTOCAMME presented "a green flash fades" for the first time. This piece, choreographed for three dancers and a bottle cap tapestry, is designed to adapt to a variety of indoor and outdoor locations. Structured improvisations allow for immediate reactions to changes of scenery or audience reactions/involvement that contrast with moments of simple, repetitive, dance phrase work performed in a series of revolving solos and duets. 

The GARNER Arts Center is part of an historic 19th century textile mill and many of the exhibitions and installations at the festival this year specifically involved the use of textiles in both traditional and non-traditional forms. In their performances at various locations around the site, the RETTOCAMME performers focused on imagery of women working in factories both past and present, i.e. pride in one's work, sisterly bonds in the workplace, desires/fantasies of an another life. 

"a green flash fades" (working title)
concept, bottle cap tapestry, and photo by Emma Cotter
choreography in collaboration with dancers:
Marcia Brooks, Courtney Brodie, Annie Heinemann

Upcoming performances of "a green flash fades" include:

Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
MiXt Co. Spring Performance
Greenwich Academy's Black Box Theater
Greenwich, CT 

Saturday, June 14, 2015 
intermittent roaming perfromances 1-4 p.m.
sod stage at North 10th 2:35 - 3 p.m.
Northside Festival/Williamsburg Walks
Brooklyn, NY
Curated by Triskelion Arts
-various locations-








Monday, May 18, 2015

2015 GARNER Arts Festival

On May 30 and 31, RETTOCAMME will present a new site-specific, roving dance performance incorporating bottle cap constructions (working title "a green flash fades") at the 2015 GARNER Arts Festival in Rockland County, NY.




concept and bottle cap constructions by: Emma Cotter
choreography in collaboration with dancers: 
Courtney Brodie
Marcia Brooks
Annie Heinemann
Rebecca Moore

The festival is 11-6 on Sat. May 30 and Sun. May 31
 RETTOCAMME performances will occur during 1-3 p.m.
 both days at various indoor and outdoor locations.
Location updates will be made live via Twitter: @RETTOCAMME

Here are a few pics from RETTOCAMME's previous appearances at GARNER Arts Center:
(all photos by Michael Reck)




ABOUT GARNER Arts Center
A Non-Profit Center for Visual & Performing Art Experiences

GARNER Arts Center is located 35 miles from Manhattan in the lower Hudson Valley within the Garnerville Arts & Industrial Center, an historic 19th century textile mill.  GARNER provides unique and vibrant performance, gallery and creative space and presents artistic programs of exceptional merit for the benefit of a multi-cultural population.  It is our mission to preserve the sanctity of the original textile mill buildings and creekside landscape, while offering an inspired setting which honors individual expression.


GETTING THERE
Below please find links to the train schedule from Secaucus Junction to the Spring Valley Transit Center and a link for the Transport of Rockland bus route 94 from the Spring Valley Transit Center. The stop is at the Helen Hayes Rehabilitation Hospital, a short walk to the GARNER Arts Center.




Below is a link to Coach USA, which would be a straight shot from the Port Authority Bus terminal.  The name of the stop is Walnut Hill, which is a 5-10 minute walk to the GARNER Arts Center. However, if you ask the driver, they will often let you off at Railroad Avenue, and it is then a short walk up to the Arts Center.





Friday, March 27, 2015

Invitations for South Brooklyn Shakespeare's first Fundraising Gala and Silent Auction

this coming Monday:
will be having its first fundraising gala 
at the Old Stone House in Park Slope, Brooklyn!


RETTOCAMME Inc contributed a limited edition of 
fancy invitations which have already been distributed, 
but tix can still be purchased on the web via Fractured Atlas!


I have had the pleasure of working as a choreographer 
with South Brooklyn Shakespeare the last couple summers 
and am looking forward to returning to the creative team for 
the Season 3 production of "Much Ado About Nothing" 

Please save the dates!

Saturday, July 25th (5th Ave btwn 17th & 18th St) 
Saturday, August 1st (The Old Stone House)
Saturday, August 15th (5th Ave & Dean St)