YS Recreates La Grande Jatte -- A Tableau Vivant!

YS Recreates La Grande Jatte -- A Tableau Vivant!

Date: Oct 12, 2025 (Rehearsals Sept 28 and/or Oct 5, 1-3pm)

Time: 1-5pm

Location: 1333 Corry St, Yellow Springs, OH 45387

TABLEAU VIVANT: Join us for an exciting event where we bring to life the iconic painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat and last owned by our forest's namesake, Helen Birch Bartlett, who died 100 years ago on Oct 24. We shall experience a reflexive metaphor of a day of art made from art, honoring artists and art patrons, creating art in situ we have never tried before, all the while including a tableau vivant, comedy, dance, music and having plein-air artists paint and draw us in situ, while community enjoy their bring-your-own picnic on a Sunday Afternoon... just as the title states!

This performance will be filmed for a documentary, as well as a music video that will be shared with all performers, as well as professional 8 x 10 prints of each shot you were in! It will also be shared with the Yellow Springs community through the historical society and the sponsors of the event! And awards and showcase opportunities will be given to the plein-air artists!

These are the rsvp categories:

1. Actors - includes Posers, Dancers, Musicians & Poetry Reader
2. Crew/Volunteers/Assistant Producer
3. Plein-Air Artists
4. Community Picnickers

On the ticket page, each attendee must register seperately, yet can register for one or multiple roles, e.g. Actor Shoot #1 and Rehearsal Assistant; or Actor Shoot #1, Shoot #2, Shoot #3 and Dancer; Volunteer and Community Picknicker; Volunteer and Plein-Air Artist; any combo that is logical. It can't be Actor and Community Picnicker or other contradicatory roles.

ACTORS' COSTUMES: It's almost Halloween -- Let's get a jump start dressing up! You will have the possibility to dress in one, two or three outfits for the three photo shoots. Hopefully you are in all! Everyone is responsible for their own three possible outifts, but help is available. We will shoot in this order:

Shoot #1 A Modern-day outfit representing who you are today, what you value and/or who you will become in the future, e.g. Workout clothes, business suit, space suit, ballerina, rockstar, cell phone/laptop in hand, Helen Birch Bartlett, etc.

Shoot # 2 A "Loud-fit" e.g. a loud outfit, 60s/70s, burning man, steampunk, flare pants, rainbow afro, unicorn headdress, your alter ego, favorite Halloween costume, pimp cane, hula hoop, lumberjack, movie star wide-brim hat, etc.

Shoot #3 A Grande Jatte outfit that matches a charcter in the painting in color primarily, style secondarily, both ideally -- eg shirts can be temporarily cinched for a tight waist, $20 top hats easily bought, and here are resources for you...

Villagers Deb Henderson and Chris Powell are costume makers and have offered to help you make or improve your outfits. Our very own nonprofit discount-art supply store, Sister Trillium, has much to offer as well as much cloth in a storage unit from which you can request (W-Sun noon-6pm, 108 Dayton St), and commercial stores such as Foy's Halloween and Variety Store in Fairborn, Party City, and Amazon are great resources!

CREW/VOLUNTEERS: Volunteers are just as important as actors to make this happen! Please rsvp to a be a volunteer, this will be educational for you, not mundane tasks, eg we need someone to make the program and capture sponsor logos!

a) Assistant Producer -- approx 10 hrs now-Oct 11, and 5 hrs on Oct 12

b) Rehearsal Assistant -- primarily note taker, music assistance;

c) Production Day Crew -- set up and tear down of popup tents, tables, power cables, etc

RSVPs: This is a free community event, but RSVPs are a must as this takes place on private property. And, most importantly, I need to know what role you want to play. You can Volunteers and Donations are needed to cover costs of hosting this event. If you are able to carry tables or set up back drops, or run check-in, please volunteer and you'll be part of the La Grande Jatte crew! Setup will start around 11am on Performance Day, Oct 12.

DONATIONS: When you register, please donate what you can -- this is a costly production and it takes a village to make it happen! Donors requesting a tax deduction statement may write a check to the The Yellow Springs Arts Council "memo: La Grande Jatte!", or donate through their website: https://www.ysartscouncil.org --> click the Membership tab top right -- > select Donate -- > select the amount you can give --> check the box next to Add Note/Comment and write "La Grande Jatte!". Donations without a tax deduction statement can be made through right here on the Tickets page.

GET EXCITED: Get ready to step into the world of art and be part of a living masterpiece! Bring your friends and family to witness this unique experience. Don't miss out on this chance to be part of art history!

Questions? Message [email protected]

Info: Stick around in your period costume to keep dancing to DJ Aaron Willis and socialize with your new music-video friends! And play Radminton too! Also, please help with clean-up as we celebrate and enjoy our Sunday Afternoon By The Pond in Yellow Springs!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

1333 Corry St, 1333 Corry Street, Yellow Springs, United States