In preparation for the Des Moines Art Festival, the Circus decided to do an interactive animation that would get festival-goers physically involved. We decided to use them as props in a large-scale animation, with a camera located 40 feet above. Event organizers provided a skyjack, where the camera was located, and we got volunteers from the crowd to act out a pinball-themed animation in the grass below.
Above, Circus members test out the camera by animating themselves in the grass outside the house using a camera in the attic.
The field where the animating happened in Des Moines. Volunteers were placed on the grass, while the camera shot from above, in this thing...
Groups of volunteers enjoyed acting out a giant pinball game on the grass below. We had kids, adults, even a troop of high-school mimes...
In addition to shooting the human pinball in the grass, the Circus had our airstream shooting studio on the street for people to come check out, the Do-It-Yourself station, and an informational table in a tent to get out the word about Tiny Circus.
Here is a view of the festival from the air, one of the perks of having a skyjack:
And, finally, an aerial view of our jam-packed show Saturday night. Festival goers gladly rested for a bit while watching our animations, along with a few sneak peeks of the footage we shot that day.
The weekend of July 2, 3, and 4 saw the Circus rolling into Fairfield, IA, to lead another workshop, this one with adults. (Fun!) We were hosted by the Icon Gallery, and enjoyed the generous hospitality of director Bill Teeple. Above is the venue, with some curious onlookers.
Across the street from the gallery in the Town Square, the Circus set up camp to spread the word, including airstream and Do-It-Yourself station.
Inside the gallery, the group brainstormed the History of Blue. It was a refreshing and fun experience working with a group of adults, all of whom brought creativity and energy to the table. After the brainstorm, participants split into a prop-making and a sound-making group, who didn't see each other until after the making stage. Prop-makers worked on a handmade paper set, while the sound-makers and were excited to have the help of a mandolin player, who was accompanied by found-object instruments.
After the making stage, everyone was impressed by the harmony of the sounds and objects that came separately out of the same brainstorm. Above, a group of Fairfieldians works on shooting the History of Blue, which debuted Saturday night in a show in Fairfield's Town Square.
The Tiny Circus would like to thank all those who participated in the Fairfield workshop, and who generously contributed to its wellbeing there. We had a great time and would love to come visit again! And, please join us for the next dance party...
In the rain, on the 4th of July. Pure joy.
