Hello everyone!
I meant to write before the end of spring break, and then before graduation, but, alas, I am back in Chicago with a diploma placed "somewhere safe." I've just moved in with a friend from the Art Institute and I am attempting to deal with the post-graduation/pre-having-a-job abyss. I've found that if I don't have a long detailed task list, I will end up walking from one end of the apartment to the other, watering a potted plant, sitting down on one couch, moving to the more comfortable couch, checking to see if the plant grew, testing the weather outside, walking upstairs to my room to shift my random materials from one place to the other. I think the cat gets restless just watching me. Thankfully, I often notice this daze and then I find a pen and paper. (This email was on the list.)

I last wrote several months ago, so as you can imagine, lots has happened. I will attempt to share only the completely noteworthy events, and save the mundane stuff for personal correspondence.

First, SLChic-A-Go-Go!!! Most of you have heard me rave about the Chicago public access television show, Chic-A-Go-Go. It's American Bandstand for kids of all ages, more or less, an incredibly awkward dance party put on television. What could be better?! So in honor of my 22nd birthday, and everything else, the SLChic-A-Go-Go Committee created SLChic-A-Go-Go, the Sarah Lawrence College version of Chic-A-Go-Go. It was pretty brilliant, hosted by Miss Sarah and Nutso, with musical guests, our Metro-North Train Line, and a low-tech fantasy dance. There were about 10 people in the committee who came together to paint sets, create bad jokes, make the playlist, gut the puppet, and videotape it all. About 30 people came to dance on camera. You can watch our creation on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIm43S4_pHE (there are 5 parts to show the entire thing)
**If you are in Chicago, you can star on the real thing this Saturday, June 2, noon-3pm, Green and Van Buren.

Other great past events... the performances of "Prospect:Vital Functions" the durational system-based performance I created, Or "Annieland" as known by my performers. It was pretty brilliant to have five performers willing to dive into their own journeys as makers in a public space. I think we all learned a lot in the process, and the process is ongoing.
Experiencing Sara Rudner's four-hour piece Dancing-On-View (Preview/Hindsight), which featured 17 dancers, most of whom associated with Sarah Lawrence College. After the performance a woman approached me in tears of joy and asked how I felt. I told her that I felt like I was on top of a cloud or maybe standing in a big hand, that the history of Sarah Lawrence dance was tangible and it supports me now and ongoing.
Graduation was also great! I wore my tap shoes the entire day. I felt like I was eight and it was my first pair and my mom was about to scold me for ruining my shoes and scratching the floor. Harold "Stumpy" Cromer came, and I tapped up to the president to receive my diploma.

So now, what next? For the month of June I am free as a poor bird on a tight budget. I hope to find a "real job" and continue to street perform. In July I am participating in Goat Island Summer School, a three week long performance art intensive. I've been looking forward to this for over a year! Then, come mid-August, I am back home in the Czech lands, where I will be working for an artist named Barbara Benish. Stay tuned for more emails about oats and goats!!

I hope you are all doing well. Please write back and let me know.
best,
annie...