Wed, Sep 25, 2019
Ashley Holmes
Entrevista incandescente: Steve Cooper
GLOW: Un festival de fuego y luz está a punto de tener su octava presentación en el MAH. Ocho años de instalaciones interactivas de fuego, proyecciones brillantes y una muestra del Burning Man en el centro de Santa Cruz.
Pero, ¿sabes cómo se originó el festival?
¿No? ¿Tal vez? Bueno, es una de mis historias favoritas porque captura muy bien la actitud proactiva del MAH de hacer eventos para la comunidad. Volvamos al 2011 cuando el cinematógrafo local y asistente del Burning Man, Steve Cooper, le propuso la idea a nuestra Directora Ejecutiva en ese momento, Nina Simon, en una reunión del vecindario.
El MAH tenía el espacio, Nina tenía las conexiones y Steve tenía el fuego.
Follow along below as we put Steve through a rapid-fire interview to get to know the GLOW imagineer.
Why fire art?
- Because it’s hot in every way
Why the MAH?
- Can you say “concrete doesn’t burn”?
What inspires your art?
- Nature’s first combo TV/BBQ, the bonfire
All-time favorite GLOW moment? Why?
- The very first time Lucy performed with Satan’s Calliope, because it shrieks and bellows and hollers like a banshee!
How did the first time go?
- Way better than anyone would have expected. I think we set all-time records for a MAH event and had crowds that rivaled Halloween downtown without any of the chaos.
What was better the second time?
- #2 was like a well-oiled machine, the FD knew what to expect, the city was primed for a vibrant event, and the MAH had enlisted a force of both newbie and experienced volunteers to help out.
How has GLOW grown over the years?
- We keep getting huge crowds, with both return and new attendees. The focus on the electronic side is fantastic - talk about diversity!
What’s the craziest idea you didn’t think was possible, but happened?
- Getting Flaming Lotus Girls out of San Francisco to bring down impossibly cool fire art with a substantial Burning Man playa pedigree.
What’s the best feedback you’ve heard?
- The smiles of a parent watching their little kid play the fire piano
What’s your wildest dream for future GLOWs?
- A budget that could help us cover some crazy impressive pieces like Duane Flatmo’s El Pulpo Mechanico, or Flaming Lotus Girls’ Serpent Mother
Why do you keep coming back to GLOW?
- I feel responsible for starting this fire.
Anything else you want the people to know?
- Don’t do this at home.