Surgeon’s Knife Music Video (2015):
Prior to the release of the first single off of Wahzu Wahzu (2015) 60 guests were invited to a semi-private listening party/video shoot at The Foundry. While filming footage for The Parlor’s first track release, guests got an advanced listening of 5 of the 12 tracks from the album.
Artists and creators throughout the region were enlisted to help with the production. Event designer Mary Elise Rees created the DANCE sign marquee, while Matt Ferguson of Rival Galaxies was in charge of the dance party, complete with lighting, fog, and DJing the after party. Dave Senigo and Nate Simms captured intimate portraits throughout the night of the 30-40 trained and amateur dancers. The Foundry’s production team consisted of Jesse Matulis (director), Alana Sparrow Matulis, and Adam Muro.
Eric Krans served as co-director and was in charge of choreography.
See the video HERE.
Our Day in the Sun (2011):
Some 100 guests were invited to the Our Day in the Sun (2012) listening party. When they arrived at The Foundry they entered into a set mimicking the parlor at The Kirk Estate. It was here that Jen O’Connor + Eric Krans publicly announced their name change to “The Parlor.” The parlor set was accented with the oceanic themes of the record by showcasing the ocean paintings created by Jen’s maternal grandmother. Some half-dozen original oil canvases were displayed throughout the gallery.
The listening portion of the event was complemented by an album-long music video created out of 8mm film footage shot by Jen’s maternal grandfather. It was the same ocean that had been captured on canvas. The footage was edited by Jen and later was further edited down to create one music video for each track of the album. The video for the first single “Tear Down the Coastline” played in a loop and was projected into the front window of the gallery. Guests could listen to the video by putting on one of a number of headphones hanging from the ceiling near the projection.
Following the listening portion of the event, the audience was given a live acoustic performance of six new tracks from the album.
Pos-Def (2009):
The pos-def (positive deficit) showcase featured over 50 original works created collaboratively by a number of artists who took part in the pos-def movement in 2009. It was started by “Tree” Teagers and “Charlie Waters” as a meditation on the Now, and a separation from the known-self. The movement focused on simultaneous collaborative creation in a set time period, typically the length of a record, where artists would paint improvisationally. The effect of painting over others’ work (and expecting your own work to be painted over) was encouraged as to separate oneself from the ego. Pos-def celebrated the temporality of creativity and put greater emphasis on art created in collaboration instead of creation by an individual.
During the Pos-Def showcase pieces were displayed throughout the 5 1/2 acres at the Kirk Estate. Art was strung from trees or attached to outbuildings. Others were stashed in the woods or at the base of waterfalls. Guests were given a map and key to each piece and were encouraged to take home their favorite work at the end of the event. Some 40 participants collaborated in a pos-def piece that took place throughout the day.
The event culminated in two musical performances in the parlor. First by Charlie Waters, and then by The Parlor (then known as We are Jeneric).
The event doubled as a CD release party for Animals Are People Too.
