MISSION
STATEMENT: Environmental Encroachment recreates environments with art, music and play.
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Chicago performance art group Environmental Encroachment (EE) uses circus theatrics and an artist marching band to create unique entertainment environments. Performances can include costumes, live music, parades, acrobatics, fire spinning, spontaneous appearances and audience interaction.
EE Marching Band's music uses North African, Latin, and traditional American rhythms, fused with electric bass and a brass section. Melodies are folkloric fusions, and creations inspired from New Orleans, Jazz and Rock.
EE encourages participation, dance, and freeing the
spirit. Our magic circus marching band has evolved as part of
a new genre of music:
"Across the country and around the world, a new type of street band is emerging. Acoustic and mobile, borrowing repertoire and inspiration from a diverse set of folk music traditions – New Orleans second line brass bands, European Klezmer, Balkan and Romani music, Brazilian Afro Bloc and Frevo traditions, as well as the passion and spirit of Mardi Gras and Carnival– these “honkers” all share a commitment to several core principles. Metaphorically speaking, they honk their horns for the same reasons motorists honk theirs: to arouse fellow travelers, to warn of danger, to celebrate milestones, and to just plain have fun."
www.honkfest.org
EE can do children's shows,
Halloween shows, street busking, tactical encroachments, playground
installations, puppet festivals, percussion and puppet making workshops,
rituals, marching bands that grow when fertilized, raw architectural
projects, circusesque sideshows, vaudevillian skits, straight out music
jams and synchronized swimming with tubas.
EE started in 1996, with
playground installations and live music interactions
for people to play, be childlike, curious, free. Playgrounds for the
mind. Playgrounds and performances to stimulate audiences into creative participants.
EE's artists have many talents
from percussion construction to large scale backpack puppets, masks, fire spinning, poi, hooping, flagging, juggling,
and many methods of music.
Contact us for resources regarding your project needs.
EE
Select
Festivals:
Sourth By Southwest
Lollapalooza
Chicago World Music Festival
HONK! Radical Marching Band Festivals (Seattle, Boston)
Burning Man
Houston Art Car Parade
Puppetropolis
Chicago Children's Music Festival
Chicago Folk and Roots Festival
SummerCamp
WZRD College Radio Spring Festival
Cleveland Performance Art Festival
Black Sheep Puppet Festival
Rotary Centennial Celebration
Chiditarod: Absurdist Shopping Cart Race
Michigan Peace and Music Festival
Chicago Peace Festival
Museums:
Museum of Contemporary Art
Krannert Museum of Art
Field Museum of Natural History
Museum of Science and Industry
Queens Museum of Art
Harley Davidson Museum
Select
Venues:
Chicago Cultural Center
Old Town School of Folk Music
Gallery 37 Storefront Theater
The Congress Theater
City of Chicago Halloween Parade
Unity Temple by Frank Lloyd Wright
Chicago's Navy Pier
Chicago Motor Speedway, NASCAR
Millenium Park
Vassar College
Northeastern University
The Orange Show
Ravenswood Buddhist Temple
OTHER
Acknowledgments
Many people
have contributed to this project— special cyber thanks to Bret
Lortie, SuperBucky, David Marine, Fred Hickler and Kate Reigle - van West;
Photo credits belong to Alyce Henson, Brillantly Mad, Dan Merlo, M. Smith, B. Lortie, Heather,
Josi, dr. flypaper, Mr.Petey, Saverio Truglia, Robin Barcus, Jason Delancey,
Darwin Stephens, Joseph Storch, Michael Canavan, and the Utah Highway patrol. Most of these folks have
links for further info on the EE links page.
EE founding member David Christensen died of cancer poisoning
in July of 1997. EE will always work with him in mind and spirit. His
inspirations and spirit still shine.
Peter Kadyk
(Peter Overton) went to another world on April 17, 2001. He was another
great contributor to the spirit of this project. He remains an inspiration
to all that know and know of him. He raised the bars!
www.peterkadyk.com
