Chicago Sinfonietta and the Zhou Brothers - September 2012

Zhou Brothers - Shan Zuo and Da Huang

Updated 9/30/2016

The Chicago Sinfonietta and the Zhou Brothers collaborated to give us a unique experience, one of music and color. For me, this was very warming. The relaxed feeling of energy, creativity, passion, went through the room as all who attended were swept into the moment.

With the Chicago Sinfonietta, led by Maestro Mei-Ann Chen, the Zhou brothers internalized that energy, and expressed it onto a huge canvas. Oh, let us not get ahead of ourselves . . . there is a beginning, before we get to the end . . .

Here are some photos of the reception before this extraordinary event. Enjoy!

This next photo is of Maestro Mei-Ann Chen and Da Huang.

And brother Shan Zuo . . .

Our Emcee for this evening was Judy Hsu, of ABC7 News This Morning, Chicago. As I look back at my life, I find I am always happy to see the "human" side of television. I have been able to meet many actors, at least many to my standards, and have always walked away with a great appreciation of them as wonderful people, giving us their energy and insights, adding to our lives. Judy is friendly, adorable, spirited and a person I would call a friend any day. Thank you Judy for being here for us, and for the Zhou Brothers, on this special evening.

My friend and date for this evening, Diana Leviton Gondek with Maestro Chen.

Robin Rios of 4Art . . .

I have to thank Diana for being a good sport. She knew I was there to take photographs, she knew I was taking more of my share of her, and she proudly let me. Thank you Diana!

The main event. To start us off, The Chicago Sinfonietta Ensemble with Eric Goldberg and Shuya Gong - percussion, and Idy Ciss - Djembe. Normally, I would have played photographer and elbowed my way to find "my shot". However, this evening I was moved more to feel the experience. So I took photos sparingly throughout this program.

Next was Project Trio, with Greg Patillo - flute, Eric Stephenson - cello, and Peter Seymour - bass. They were very entertaining with wit, humor, and of course a superb performance of music. I highly recommend you go see them perform.

A video interlude of the Zhou Brothers followed. I did not try to photograph this, mainly for their copyright, and because I just wanted to sit back and enjoy.

Afterward, the Zhou Brothers entered and the main performance began, with the Chicago Sinfonietta performing:

Butterfly Lover's Prelude, Gang Chen / Zhanhao He

Four Seasons, Antonio Vivaldi

I. Spring
IV. Winter
arr, Eric Goldberg and Shuya Gong

Here are the photos . . .

What I thought was very nice were the side screens. No matter where you sat, you had a view of the performance. I was able to capture "the real" and "the projection", all at once from the corner I was at.

Now realize, there is music, both from the Chicago Sinonietta, and from the Zhou Brothers. Being brothers, Da Huang and Shan Zuo understand each other, how each connects between sound, themselves, and color. The emotion they receive from the external music, transmits to their selection of color, their brush strokes, and collaboration between themselves. It turns "into" music. Maestro Chen was all aware, and reciprocated in collaboration through her conducting. This is what made "being present" much more meaningful. As you watched, listened, looked around, you became part of that same collaboration. You understood what was going on. You connected. This simple experience, being inside ourselves and everything that was going on for that moment, is what this was all about.

Near the end, the Brothers verbally communicated for the first time. Knowing they were close, yet not close enough to completion. A few more strokes of paint, then one last talk. Done. I was not in a position to photograph their expression of completion, and their thanks to Maestro Chen, the Chicago Sinonietta, and the audience. So I will write . . . they were both humbled and proud to have given us this opportunity to understand them, as Brothers, and their passion for their art.

Here are some more photos for you to enjoy . . .

And yes, I dragged Diana out, kicking and screaming. I know she enjoyed this event, so I wanted to take a photo of her in front of the Zhou Brothers art for her remembrance.

I would also like to take this time to thank my new found artist friends, who have studios at the Zhou B Art Center, and who I saw this evening. They are . . .

Keiko Nemeth

Brigitte Wolf

Corinna Button

and of course my date for the evening

Diana Leviton Gondek

These artists have allowed me to come into their lives to photograph. Seeing through their eyes has helped me to "see" and express my photography. What I also understand, this is a journey. One that should never end. One that I chose to take, the road less traveled, so I can share with those who choose a different path than mine.

Zhou B. Art Center

1029 West 35th Street

Chicago, IL 60609

(773) 523-0200

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