Michael Harris, Text/Spoken Word, Music, Symposium

Proposal: 

 ERNEST SONG PROJECT:

The Ecology of Happiness

From Petrified to Occupy

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Michael Harris, Deep River, Connecticut (aka, Ernest Song) proposes The Ecology of Happiness exhibit.

Visual/Spoken Word Display (http://pecha-kucha.org/what)

The Ecology of Happiness is a combination visual/spoken word piece based on the Japanese presentation format of ‘Pecha-Kucha’ - 20 slides for 20 seconds. The topic delves into a holistic exploration of ‘happiness’; if and how it is even possible at this time in history, how it relates to the fuller experience of our aliveness, and how it is ultimately a limited, individualized aspect of a much larger experience of relationship.

The display features 20 white poster boards arranged in a 4x5 grid and each containing words and phrases. Each slide is accompanied by written text representing the twenty-second spoken-word presentation for that slide. The display can be self-toured, as a stand alone piece, and will also be accompanied by live presentation during a variety of events within the exhibit time frame.

Musical Element (http://www.myspace.com/ernestsongcombo/radio)

The Ernest Song project features original music relating to the message in The Ecology of Happiness. It is proposed that local musicians will be recruited to perform the seven songs featured on the Ernest Song CD, Petrified, If Not for You at a variety of events.

Inter-Active Symposium (http://www.awakeningthedreamer.org/)

An inter-active Awakening the Dreamer/Changing the Dream symposium is proposed for the exhibit time frame. The symposium is a 3-hour transformative mixed media experience presented by trained facilitators. I am a facilitator, and propose working with one or two other, local facilitators to present the symposium. The goal of the Awakening the Dreamer/Changing the Dream symposium is to help bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on this planet.