"having never previously been to the bamboo grove, i don't think that any subsequent visit could rival the vision that remains burned in memory now that you've 'captured' the space, juxtaposing nature, memory, and madness!"
-Jenny Bilfield
Artistic & Executive Director
Stanford Lively Arts

Abhay: Edward we resolved the question of why we go to the tree after confronting each other midway in the bamboo alley. This video is now on ning in 2 parts.

Essentially my character (man, animal, earth...) encounters during the battle the other character's knee, thigh, shoulders, his very humanness/animalness, something the other character (spirit) does not want to acknowledge and so remains connected to the flowers on our backs (flowers instead of arrows on our backs). Spirit flees towards r… Continue

We found a theme emerging,a motivation behind all the instructions and questions. Transplanting. We can ask people to do just about anything but why? Or how?

Keeping the theme of transplanting, here are some questions that motivate an instructional form to our performance:

What the hell is bamboo doing in an alley at Stanford?

What are we (humans) doing to our trees?

How long does it take to belong? How hard is the ache of longing and belonging?

What has the bamboo and what have I left behi… Continue

1. Using sticks for the blind

walk across blindfolded pick up rocks (larger than fists smaller than heads) walk back

2. Walk in a very straight line along a string stretched taut

3. Hang candy from bamboo

4. Rest on benches, sleep

5. Parallel performance. Group on concrete walkway mirrors the walk of group along bamboo alley

6. All groups get to tree. Tree is decorated, has sound-scape

7. Groups shoulder burdens (shoulder to shoulder) across alley

8. Shadows cast by powerful (and weak) f… Continue

3 Questions for Brenton and Edward (and two additional ideas to keep in mind)

1. What is the sound of water that walks, the look of water that talks?

2. If you were a bamboo-worm (I don't know if there is such a thing) what would you see, who would you visit?

3. What has the alley seen, what has the alley yet to see?

Two additional ideas to keep in mind for all 3 questions:

Whose side are you on?

Simplex/complex with you in the middle.