First installation in fall
miniseries
By Michael Somerby EBS STAFF
BIG SKY – On Oct. 1, Ray Li, aka
North Wind, dazzled Big Sky audiences at the Warren Miller Performing Arts
Center with his unique synthesis of technology, kinetics and music.
Dubbed a “virtual reality
DJ,” Li, who earned a bachelor’s
degree in engineering
physics and applied
physics
from world-renowned Cornell University, plied that expertise in the niche
science of creating a one-of-a-kind sound system that incorporates
DJ’s traditional tools—sound pad,
keyboard, foot pedals, dials and knobs—with a motion sensor that allows the Las
Vegas-native to use simple hand movements to warp sound.
North Wind, declared a
“Renaissance-level” creative by the Discovery Channel, was the first in an
inaugural fall miniseries at WMPAC designed to bolster a traditionally quieter
time in Big Sky.
For John Zirkle, WMPAC’s
executive director, programs
are about building an artistic
infrastructure that nurtures culture and
patrons of all walks, setting the stage for a consistency that audiences can
rely on for years to come.
“As the town grows, so too should
that mission and focus on infrastructure,” Zirkle said. “Fall
is something we’ve been looking at experimenting with over years.”
“We
had 150 people in the theater,
which was a huge success for an Oct. 1 performance,” he
added. “Not only did it feel like a really full crowd for this time
of the year, but it was quite a diverse crowd, with more than a handful
visiting the WMPAC for the very first time … We loved [the] originality of his story, and we’re
proud to have been his first stage on his first tour. The WMPAC sets the stage
for creativity in Big Sky,
Montana. I’d say mission accomplished.”
Be sure to catch the second fall miniseries installment, “The Cashore Marionettes,” on Saturday, Oct. 12 featuring puppeteer Joseph Cashore who has been performing for more than 30 years and is considered one of the premier practitioners of the art form.
Visit warrenmillerpac.org for more information.
