The proverb reads… “when the need for something becomes imperative, you are forced to find ways of getting or achieving it.” Mothers live this everyday, never knowing what is next... inventing and improvising life as it comes to them… always with love and patience. Who first said this proverb… in the Socratic dialogue 'Republic', Plato famously wrote: “our need will be the real creator.” Today, in honor of Mother’s Day, we share mothers of invention, and where better to start than The Mothers of Invention, headed by Frank Zappa. You can love him or hate him, but his breadth of work, from crazy rock to works for symphonic orchestra, prove he was a true innovator.
[ H E A R ]
The Mothers of Invention
Frank Zappa
Born on Dec. 21, 1940, Frank Zappa first came to widespread public attention in 1966, the year his first album with The Mothers of Invention was released. Zappa insisted that they perform his original material, and on Mother's Day in 1965, changed their name to the Mothers. Record executives demanded that the name be changed, and so "out of necessity," Zappa later said, "we became The Mothers of Invention."
Characterized by a bizarre melting pot of musical influences, satirical lyrics, extremely high instrumental values and outrageous theatrical performances, that group attracted a strong base of public support while breaking almost all of the established rules of the music business.
[ T H I N K ] The Queen of Soul Music
Aretha Franklin
Any list of mothers of invention would be incomplete without Aretha Franklin.
[ S E E ]
Minimal Female Figures Explore Community, Identity, and Connection
Laura Berger’s Paintings
Laura Berger is inspired by rituals, symbols, nature, dreams, travel, our quest for self-development and freedom, and how we piece things together to create personal meaning and a sense of belonging to the greater whole. Her current work is centered around themes of interdependence and self-understanding, featuring figurative imagery and dreamlike minimalistic environments.
In Laura Berger’s minimalist paintings, female figures entwine together in abstract formations. The Chicago-based artist continues to explore themes of identity, community, and connection, in addition to more abstract conceptions of energy and quality of life, throughout her largely geometric body of work. “As a woman, I usually paint from that perspective point, but the figures are really meant mostly to serve as characters through which to explore our collective humanity and shared experience,” she says.
Berger states, "I'm interested in our search for a sense of belonging and meaning, and the way that pursuit interacts with our existential concerns within the larger world. Much of my focus has been on exploring alternate notions of family and connection -- through our ties to the global community, to our personal histories, to nature and to the unknown. The figures in my work are meant to represent everyone, and myself, with external identifiers of race and age removed. Sort of a drilling down to the more pure level of what makes us human and a representation on that soul level of where we're all the same and equal."
[ F E E L ]
The Big Crying (Souls made apparent)
Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT)
NDT is one of the world's leading contemporary dance companies, already for 60 years! The group is based in The Hague, but performs for an international audience of 115,000 visitors in Europe, America, Asia and Australia.
The Big Crying (Souls made apparent) brings some of the most technically challenging and theatrically demanding NDT creators together in one program: besides a world premiere by associate and innovative choreographer Marco Goecke, the young dancers of NDT will present 27’52’’ by maestro Jiří Kylián.
One year ago, on Mother’s Day, we started the DW Sunday Edition... our way of staying connected to you when we could not meet in person. I shared a poem I wrote to my mother. And now we share it with you again one year later. We had all begun to navigate the unknown together that week, and here we are today with all we have learned along the way.
Next week will be my last Sunday Edition for the summer as we hope to see you all in person at Dancers’ Workshop. We will be offering an outdoor venue on the Center Green as well as in the Center Theatre. I quite often see DW as the Mother of Invention! I hope you will join us as you feel comfortable. Celebrating all Mothers! May you be cherished and loved!
