I’ve been approached to perform for this event in support of Planned Parenthood, and while I am unsure whether I can get back in the air in time for this after recovering from recent health issues, I want to show my support for the project regardless.
PINK CARPET PROJECT:
Seattle Fashion Stands with Planned Parenthood
Thursday, March 1st (8pm)
Location FRED.
This is a 21+ event.
$25 Standing //
$50 VIP (Front row and swag bag) //
$300 Table Host (Front row table seating for three people, two bottles of Girly Girl Wines, a generously donated Black Car service to and from the event by Black Crown Car, appetizers, and swag bag)
For a limited time, until Feb 1 2012, I am offering a digital copy of “Embodied, Live in Seattle” online in the form of a 140mb 256k mp3 file of the entire musical performance, minus the two aerial acts and credits sequence.
The cost is a minimum $6 ($5 + transaction fee) and pay-what-you-can after that if so inclined, sent to courtnee @ gmail.com through Paypal. Once received, I’ll respond via your paypal email within a couple hours with the url to stream and/or download the digital album. You may also send a check via snail mail to 600 1st Ave Suite #325, Seattle WA 98106, with your email address clearly printed on the memo line.
Hopefully this will enable more people to experience the music, and help me recover financially from being sick the last few months. Enjoy!
Embodied is a one-woman show illustrating a musical journey, and a rare public performance including much of my original music and distinctive cover songs. It depicts the sense of the personality fragmentation in youth, and the experience of slowly piecing ones self together to truly be a whole person. There will be live music, stunning visuals, palpable energy and an aerial performance. Anyone who enjoys being moved by the dark, melancholy, and profound will love this show.
Artist, performer, director and writer: Courtnee Papastathis (also as Zita the Aerialist)
Sound Engineering, back-up: Edgars Klepers
Visuals and Lights: Courtnee Papastathis and Miked Up Productions.
November 9th and 10th. 2011
8pm – 10pm
FRED Wildlife Refuge
127 Boylston St
Seattle, WA 98102
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Example track “Threshold”, from my first album, “Point of Origin”. Flash required to preview music.
ABOUT THE MUSIC:
I first emerged on mp3.com as “Not Applicable” in 1999, with my first track Infinite Reality immediately topping the ambient electronic charts. Over the next few years through mp3.com, two albums were released; Point of Origin in 2000, and Altercations in 2001.
Until the 2008 limited edition self released album “Songs of Leaving”, my first album in 8 years, I’ve mostly favored covers and lending vocals to other artists. In 2001 I produced vocals for The Dream Traveler (Joey Fehrenbach) for the tracks Structure and Headpusher. Described as “impressive and emotive”, both Structure and Headpusher were released together as a well-received single through Fade records in 2003. Headpusher was featured on Nick Warren’s Global Underground release Reykjavik.
In 2002, I sang on Scribe Machine’s album Replicant for the stand-out track Fragile, a top 10 hit on many college radio stations, which was later released as a Maxi-single through Plan B and Tower Records.
“Not Applicable (Courtnee Papastathis) is a spectacular and rather cinematic experience. The central texture is influence by Tangerine Dream & Brian Eno and periodically altering its orientation to Phillip Glass & Steve Riech. My favorite part of this music is the mysterious tension of the hauntingly beautiful vocalization. The Music takes occasional ominous sounding detours into new age, and even flirts with electronic windham styling. But the overall aesthetic is still very original.” – The Big Roll
“Not Applicable is a one-woman band (Courtnee Fallon Papastathis) who possesses the unique ability to virtually freeze time with her moving, highly emotional ambient landscapes.” – Digital DriveThru Essentials
“For an album that has not one word, it still seems to speak to you; The music has a way of speaking its message through the pitch and emotion in the vocals rather than poetry. Point of Origin is the death of a loved one and the regret our minds ponder, the things that are spiraling around our subconscious every day. Not Applicable is a musical form of these” – Azriel J. Knight
Embodied was made possible by the generous donations of my Kickstarter Backers. Endless thank-you’s.
Lately, there have been a few things I’ve needed to do. I’ve needed to finalize my plans for Sacramento to see my Dad in August, the month he turns 80. I’ve needed to figure out a way to Los Angeles to see Matt, my friend who’s having health problems. I’ve needed to shit or get off the pot about attending Defcon 19 in Vegas. And I’ve needed to get the fuck out of here for a while, something akin to Vashon and Europe, in the middle of the scale between the two.
Welp, a day or so ago I figured out how to get it all done. With deep thanks to my friend Jon, his travel plans, and his little red GTI that I occasionally have access to, I now have an outline of a “vacation” of sorts. It’s a mixture of work and pleasure, and I’m seeing great friends, getting away from my normal grind, heading toward warmer weather and giving myself plenty of time to get everywhere I need to be.
My (fuckballs awesome) plans:
Leaving Seattle the morning of Aug 2 – Stopping in Portland for lunch, then driving down the Oregon coast, and staying the night in Crescent City - Where Josh died in 2005, and putting that Ghost to rest. After that I’m planning to go through the redwood forest, swinging into Sacramento, over the mountains to Tahoe and south to Vegas.
Arriving in Vegas by afternoon Thursday Aug 4 — Anyone staying at the Rio who can shack me up for a night? My crime partner arrives on Friday.
Work my ass off rubbing geeks at Defcon 19 — Be there and tip generously.
Sometime around Sunday the 7th or Monday the 8th, I’m zipping over to Los Angles to visit a handful of friends who’ve migrated from Seattle the last few years, and see my sickie friend who needs a bone marrow upgrade. I’m planning on being around most of the week. *gestures the ‘call me’ lip-synch signal*
Friday or Saturday, I’m heading to Sacramento to see my Dad for a day or two. If anyone still lives out there, I need a couch to surf.
California coast north, arrive back in Seattle on the 16th, in time to go back to work on Wednesday.
I’m so glad I had the thought to drive instead of trying to figure out plane tickets (and money) for all these trips I needed to do this summer. I’m actually losing about as much time driving as I would be flying around for three separate trips.
As it sinks in that I’m really gonna do this, I think about all the time I’ll have to myself. How fucking freeing and amazing it is to drive a couple thousand miles on my own with that life-affirming sunroof open, and all the awesome shit I’m going to think about while I’m doing so — I’m getting sort of a funny feeling in my guts. I like it.
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What: Little Red Speakeasy
When: Friday, July 8 · 8:30pm – 12am
Where: Hengst Studio
1506 Franklin Ave. E.
Seattle, WA 98102
How: Cost is $20, RSVP to Jeff Hengst jeff@littleredbistro.com
I’ll be participating in the Speakeasy this month. I’m unsure exactly what I’ll be performing, but with all the stuff that’s been going on lately it seems like a really good idea to give myself some stage time for catharsis. I suspect some black silks action and a live performance of my most recent cover song.
The underlying mission of The Little Red Studio is to celebrate the intersection between art and erotic energy in a relaxed and positive space. What makes The Little Red Studio work is that models, artists, and guests are in an unconventional environment with the utmost of mutual respect. 18+ (It ain’t a sex club people, but you may see a nipple or three.). Here there is no fourth wall, and in being so a whole new world is opened up for both guests and the artists alike.
The monthly “Speakeasy” events continue to delight and infuse our audiences with a sense of artistic indulgence and fun social interaction. If you haven’t been to one in awhile, you may want to come check it out again and experience the new things, while relaxing into the familiar. If you’ve never been to one – now is the time to come see for yourself what Little Red Studio is truly all about.
The performances will amuse, mystify and perhaps even move you, while the opportunities to engage your senses will tickle your inner artist and open your heart. The Speakeasy events are part party, part performance, part spa experience and all kinds of in between. Bring some close friends and make a night of making new ones.
Since 1999, I have published music online under the band name “Not Applicable”. My original works topped the ambient electronic charts on mp3.com consistently, and in the many years since the sites downfall I’ve created more original music and covers which have never been performed.
Though compelled to see the last 12 years of work come to fruition by bringing my music out from behind a computer screen and onto a stage formally, I’ve previously thought putting on a real show consisting solely of my work was unrealistic.
Then, I heard about Kickstarter. <3
Please check out my project, share the link with your friends, back me with your money and send me love in the comments section there, so random strangers will know even more why they should support what I’m doing. :) Yay!
What: Zita the Aerialist, accompanied by cello and poetry
When: Friday, June 10, beginning 9pm (I’ll be performing around 10:45)
Where: Faire Gallery Cafe 206.652.0781
1351 E Olive Way
Seattle, WA
Cost: $5 donation suggested
I’ll be performing aerial alongside the Floating Mountain Poets, accompanied by cello (YAY!!) and spoken word. Poets include kerry cox and david jones (Seen in my most recent show, How Art Saved My Life, in Jan 2011), dobbie reese norris, terry johnson, noel parkinson, lydia swartz, solo gyrl, tom nivison, tito titus, mishabae mahoney. It’s a free and informal event. PLEASE STOP BY TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
Who: Zita the aerialist
When: Friday June 3, 7-11pm
Where: Georgetown Ballroom 5623 Airport Way S
Cost: FREE!
Reception details:
There will be aerials, acrobalance, juggling, and sweet tunes interspersed with presentations from NASA, Google, GWOB, Microsoft, and Crisis Commons VIPs. Entrance is free but beer is not. Must be 21+ to attend the reception. We’ll start at 19:00 and run until 23:30.
In addition to being invovled in David Peterman’s Common Thread piece, and Jim Wilkinson’s Naked Truth project, I was ambiently performing both Friday and Saturday evenings.
Thank you to Adam Harrison for shooting this image, and so much to everyone who attended SEAF and allowed me a window into themselves this weekend. Some of the connections through that mask were absolutely amazing.
Besides arresting festival goers with my eyes, my favorite project this year is Jim Wilkinsons “Naked Truth”. Jim and his models discuss what makes the model tick, and then choose something personal and likely secretive to paint on their body to be photographed. At SEAF, Jim displayed 45 16×20″ canvas prints on about 16sqft of wall space.
A project like this one has me written all over it (haww), and given what I’ve been up to with my internal work lately, I jumped at the chance to do this. Jim and I talked for nearly an hour, until I decided what I wanted to say. It ended up being about mom.
I stayed for dinner, and as we talked, we got to discussing how, for an erotic festival, there wasn’t a lot of erotic content in the project. So, I decided right then something else I wanted to say, and offered to come back to get a second picture taken, looking different enough that I could be in the project twice without it being too obvious.
About 4 days after the first amazing shot, we got this amazing shot.
Fucking. Awesome. I love my life. I was impressed with the festival this year and the tremendous amount of work that was obviously put into the event, and it was great to be ready to return after many years away for personal reasons.
It was most definitely a Jekyll and Hyde kind of weekend for me, full of fragile connection mirrored against a sinister smoldering prowess. Intense, rich, fulfilling, challenging. Just how I like it.
Note: These are my versions of the images post-processed my way. The images submitted to SEAF slightly differ. Also; that’s my real-life utility belt. Because, as we all know by now, I’m the fuckin’ Batman.
What: Little Red Speakeasy
When: Friday, May 13· 8:30pm – 12am
Where: Hengst Studio
1506 Franklin Ave. E.
Seattle, WA 98102
How: Cost is $20, RSVP to Jeff Hengst jeff@littleredbistro.com
I am deeply pleased to be returning to LRS in its most distilled, raw formula to sing and perform my signature aerial act. You may also catch me painting throughout the evening as well, surrounded by friends and artists and creative energy.
The underlying mission of The Little Red Studio is to celebrate the intersection between art and erotic energy in a relaxed and positive space. What makes The Little Red Studio work is that models, artists, and guests are in an unconventional environment with the utmost of mutual respect. 18+ (It ain’t a sex club people, but you may see a nipple or three.). Here there is no fourth wall, and in being so a whole new world is opened up for both guests and the artists alike.
The monthly “Speakeasy” events continue to delight and infuse our audiences with a sense of artistic indulgence and fun social interaction. If you haven’t been to one in awhile, you may want to come check it out again and experience the new things, while relaxing into the familiar. If you’ve never been to one – now is the time to come see for yourself what Little Red Studio is truly all about.
The performances will amuse, mystify and perhaps even move you, while the opportunities to engage your senses will tickle your inner artist and open your heart. The Speakeasy events are part party, part performance, part spa experience and all kinds of in between. Bring some close friends and make a night of making new ones.
Who: Chimera
What: Date Night at Versatil Arts
When: Friday, May 27 · 7:30pm – 10:30pm
Where: The Cathedral
7601 Greenwood Ave N, Suite 103
Seattle, WA
You won’t know who to trust at this event teeming with secret agents and double-crossers. Our versions of 007 may not be skiing down the Alps with machine guns or scuba diving in tuxedos, but they will show you some thrilling aerial escapades never seen in any Bond flick.
Since there are so very many movies to choose from, we’ll be sending out a poll to all attendees the week of the show. Make sure to RSVP so that you get a chance to vote – and to guarantee yourself a seat since these shows do tend to fill up.
Please note that Facebook RSVPs do NOT count. You must use the tool above to be on the list for the show.
Doors at 7:30 PM, show starts promptly at 8. Movie to follow around 9.
Cost is $5 – the cheapest date in town!
BYOB, and feel free to bring snacks and pillows or low chairs for the movie if you decide to stay for it. You are always welcome to just come for the aerial performance, however.
Who: Monster Art and Clothing in Ballard
What: http://www.monsterartandclothing.com
When: Saturday, Feb 12, 6:30 to 9:30
Where: 5000 20th Ave NW, Ballard
I’ll be performing aerial in this awesome little clothing and art store for the Ballard Art Walk, Saturday Feb 12. Last time I was there was in Nov of 2009, and it was a blast. See you there.
“How Art Saved My Life” takes place in a collective mind space. The show is an amplified illustration of the moment in time where you stare into a black hole and choose life. The setting is the mind, in dreamspace, fantasy, plugged into the matrix, whatever you want to think of it. The stories told are amplifications, illustrations, depictions, of that moment, when art saved “you”, and the moments before and after it. The show flows in a liquid motion toward progress and self acceptance and is sure to move, inspire, and entertain.
January 15, 2011 7:00 PM
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
4408 Delridge Way
Seattle, WA 98126
The music is from the Batman Begins soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. Video footage courtesy of Block My Eye Films, which I edited over one insomniatic night.
This act is an illustration of the struggle to shed the defenses that bind us, finding strength in being vulnerable, and how sex contributes to the art of self discovery. This character is established earlier in the show as someone who is timid and quiet – until she finds herself seemingly alone with her obsession.
I have performed as Zita the Aerialist since 2005. During that time my focus has been to tell compelling stories through aerial performance, often as a mechanism to cope with the challenges in my life. This act and its meaning continues to grow with me, over time.
*sigh* Man.. this is probably going to be kind of a ramble..
“Courtnee Papastathis has performed as Zita the Aerialist since 2005. During
that time her focus has been to tell compelling stories through her aerial
performances. The act you just saw was an illustration of the struggle to
shed the defenses that bind us, finding strength in being vulnerable, and
how sex contributes to the art of self discovery. It’s also a really awesome
excuse to be naked.”
I was uncharacteristically nervous and emotionally raw before my first act, even for me at my most nervous I tend to get at this point in my career. I just couldn’t shake it. Performing, much as the rest of my life, brings an ebb and flow to things. Some days I’m calm as a cucumber, quietly beckoning the universe to bring it on.
Others, I have insecurity and doubt to deal with, or I’m worried about my body being hurt, or I’m highly invested in the emotional weight of the work I am presenting and going out there feels heavy, sometimes even scary.
Last night I had all of those things. It was potentially the last aerial performance I will do, and surely the last one I will do for a while. That was hard and sad and exhilarating at times, and it made for some emotional components to be present that I hadn’t gone through in a while.
I was also performing in an all aerial show, which can be harder on my self esteem and individualism than being the aerialist in a theater show. Even when I wasn’t looking, there were little things popping up, reminding me that I am just a drop of water in an endless sea. All the acts were very different, and all the acts were very good. We do what we do well and I am proud to be a part of such a high caliber production with such talented and creative people.
That said, some of these girls can do things I will never be able to do in less time than it took me to learn how to do a fucking hip lock – things I’ve wanted to do, tried to do and, depending on my perspective, failed at. In a way it can be hard to follow up someone who’s produced a rope act that embodied what I wanted to bring to rope the first 4 years of my aerial experience and never could.
On the flip side, what I bring to my work is unique and powerful, and I know that. In accepting my bodies abilities and limits, I’ve created the space to expose myself in a way that audiences rarely get to see and I am amazing at doing it. Maybe I can’t do open legged drops without wrecking my hips, and maybe my toes won’t splay the right way so I can do a toe climb, but god dammit when I am out there I own the living shit out of it. I own the living shit out of you.
The fact that I can’t even come close to doing the splits, that I don’t have a gymnastics or dance background and that I was a professional drug abuser in my youth rather than an athlete inspires and comforts my beginning aerial students. I have a triumphant and inspiring story to tell. That’s why I like teaching beginners – I want them to know that you don’t have to be a superhuman contortionist to be an aerial performer, and I want them to know that a lot earlier than I did.
Truly performing, for me, is taking people on a stirring emotional journey – along something that runs deep and strong in us as humans. Whether it’s my music, pretending to be a dancer or climbing things, that doesn’t change much. Sometimes I’ll put on a super cute outfit, hop up on a trapeze and practice while people are watching, and that’s really fun and fueling in its own right, but it’s not a true performance of mine. It’s not the meat and the heart of what I go out there for.
I brought that meat and heart and blood and guts and spit last night. People who had no idea of the health issues I am dealing with, or that I am potentially retiring from performing aerial, told me to keep doing what I’m doing with tears in their eyes. They told me it felt like an honor to be in the audience. They told me how inspired they were to create their own magic on a stage and share it. That’s the transformative power of the arts and it’s a beautiful thing that I feel grateful and privileged to have been able to cultivate for the last 5 years. Whatever comes after this, I’ll always carry that with me.
Stay tuned for more events. Maybe this is the time in my life where I learn to be graceful on the ground.
*sniffle*
(Thank you, John Cornicello, for the lovely images, and for allowing me to post produce them)
Who: Zita the Aerialist performs What: The Gold show When: Friday, Dec 18, 9pm
Where: Little Red studio, 400 Dexter Ave N How Much: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
The underlying mission of The Little Red Studio is to celebrate the intersection between art and erotic energy in a relaxed and positive space. What makes The Little Red Studio work is that models, artists, and guests are in an unconventional environment with the utmost of mutual respect. 18+ (It ain’t a sex club people, but you may see a nipple or three.)
Our Gold Shows continue to delight and infuse our audiences with a sense of artistic indulgence and fun social interaction. If you haven’t been to one in awhile, you may want to come check it out again and experience the new things, while relaxing into the familiar. If you’ve never been to one – well now is the time to come see for yourself what Little Red Studio is truly all about.
The performances will amuse, mystify and perhaps even move you, while the opportunities to engage your senses will tickle your inner artist and open your heart.
Tickets can be purchased online at Brown Paper Tickets or in person at the Little Red Bistro during business hours.
Who: Zita the Aerialist and Beverly Rose What: Introduction to Aerial class (adults only) When: Sunday, Dec 13 and 20, from 1-3pm Where:http://www.versatilearts.net, 7601 Greenwood Ave N
This condensed course teaches basic skills and techniques on rope, tissu, and trapeze, and is highly recommended if you’ve never taken an aerial class before. The particular structure of this course is two 2 hour classes for $60. Please join the announcement list to find out about upcoming sessions and read the FAQ at versatilearts.net before signing up. See you there!
Now offering REDUCED PRICE tickets, for people who don’t want to multitask by eating food while they watch the show! $15, available on Brown Paper Tickets and at the door.
Who: Friends of Vita Arts, 21+ What: Fundraiser for http://vita-arts.org When: Saturday, Feb 6 at 7pm! Where: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW
How Much: $30 with food, $15 without!
We’re working on getting circus insurance so we can teach aerial in our Workshops! Juggling, singing, aerials, clowning and other performances, all infused with the cheesiest of sentiments. Will it be silly? You bet your fluffy cotton socks it will be! I’m directing the show which is sure to be a night of fun and frivolity, with all the proceeds going to Vita Arts. Obsidian was my dark and dwelling masterpiece; this is just going to be a shitload of fun.
Two courses of Snacky-food will be provided, and a cash bar with beer and wine will be available. Don’t come starving your faces off, but be prepped to graze and drink responsibly. NOM!
This act is an illustration of the struggle to shed the defenses that bind us, finding strength in being vulnerable, and how sex contributes to the art of self discovery. This character is established earlier in the show as someone who is timid and quiet – until she finds herself seemingly alone with her obsession.
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