As most of you already know, I am in the beginning of a documentary project on Mongolian Contortion. This project molds my studies in cultural anthropology with my years of photographing the body but also allows for a focus on a personal connection to my work. As I go through photographing the students of Serchmaa Byamba I am as well developing my own personal practice and broadening my self confidence that are both completely inspired by Mongolian Contortion. By doing these things in tandem I am allowing for a deeper understanding of the bodies I am photographing and documenting the nuances comes more naturally. I have created a multi-experience for myself to both feel by actually experiencing what contortionists go through as well as representing it via my fine art mediums. (I say “mediums” here because I hope to take this project to the mixed media level as well, but the documentary aspect and the experiences take precedence at this time).
Photographically, this is a direct extension of my project called “Interlude:Actuate” in which I created a series of fine art pieces based on photographs of people in “bound” Yoga Asana. Exploring the “bind” itself visually as an extreme connection to both the self and how we move forward. Using asana photography, specifically “bound” asana to symbolize the pauses in life, the ‘Interludes’. Combining this with an organic texture to represent growth, or activation- the movement of life- the action, ‘Actuating’. But now, considering Mongolian Contortion as the “next step”, so to speak, when it comes to photographing the body in “extreme” postures it only made perfect sense to take my work to the next level this way via the art of documentary.
What makes this project special is that I am working alongside Rise Pictures and collaborating on a documentary film! So, as I develop my imagery as described above and I am contributing to an amazing piece on Mongolian Contortion where we are exploring teacher student relationships, the development of the art form and teaching style in the west as well as producing fun events where you can come see what the buzz is all about, experience a variety of styles of contortion as well as traditional artists from the Mongolian National Ensemble here in San Francisco…
Come, experience the “Clean Socks Project” this Saturday!
Here is our website (still under construction)
Event Info>
A benefit for ‘Clean Socks’ a contortion documentary and the Cayuga Gym (Royal Russian Kung Fu Circus Training Academy of Heavenly Mountain) Holiday party!
We had our first intimate show and now we having a more formal production!
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We’d like to show you appx. 90 minutes of the beautiful efforts of students, friends and professionals!
We have contortionists (Mongolian classical and inspired), aerialists, contemporary dance from local and international artists, pole artists, traditional Mongolian musicians from the Mongolian National Orchestra and folk dancers. Even more! 
Support the documentary! Contortion is simple and for everybody. It is also hard, develops patience and changes your life! We hope to share this art form through the film AND the process of the project.
Produced by Tsogtbayar Namsrai (Rise Prodiuctions) and Faern (www.Faernworks.com)
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SATURDAY DEC. 10th
Doors OPEN @ 7:30
Show BEGINS @ 8pm, end 930. Party after~
$10-$20 sliding scale tickets.
All sales of the event go to the production of the film and photo documentary. The artists are all donating their time and efforts to help fundraise. We ask for your attendance and hope you are entertained!
Feel free to bring your dressed up fancy self and friends for a holiday get together after!!
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impossible without the
::::PERFORMANCES BY:::
Fleeky Flanco
Sasha Harrington
Inka
Indie + Friend
Sophia Fox
Dancers and Musicians of the Mongolian National Ensemble
Benjamin Hancock
Bree ‘Rock’ Noack
Featherpistol
Lance Centanni-Sachs
Tara Quinn
Amy & Hooslyn
