"Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz

                   - 1920's Polish Playwright"

Program / Brochure Cover for the play "THEY" by Lubrich 1985

. . . About 15 years ago - i was introduced to the works of Polish Playwright - Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz [ born in 1885 / died in 1939 and was also known as Wikacy in artists' circles ].
A group called The Talisman Theatre Company - led by Director Bob Lake - contacted me for the 'use' of some dozen or so paintings of mine. They were larger - than - life portraits i had been working on and this group wanted the works for a play they were doing at UCLA International Theatre - also requesting that i play a part in Stanislaw's work on absurdity with them .[ Witkiewicz was one of the founder's of the Theatre of the Absurd ]. I also created the Program / Brochure [ above ] for the play.

The play lasted two and a half weeks and was quite the introduction - for me - to live theatre with the use of absurdity. Stanislaw was also a very prolific writer and philosopher - besides being one of the 1920's leading Avant Garde Artists' Movement in Poland. To view Stanislaw's Collection of Writings, Paintings and Plays

It was with extreme pleasure i had playing a part with one of the most wonderful group of artists. The play was called "THEY" from 1920 and reflected the social and political struggle in Poland at the time. I am presently doing a re-write of Stanislaw's other little known play entitled "The Crazy Locomotive". Besides facilitating a very limited cast - there will be an actual train at a station and the entire play will be shot as a film production - with the cast and audience never really knowing who is and who isn't involved in the play.

Playbill for 'The Crazy Locomotive' by r w lubrich jr c 2006

This brilliant genius has a place in history and deserves all the attention that shall be placed upon his work in the future . . .

"Michael Lawrence

                 - Artist & Sculptor" . . .

. . . a View from the Garden

Michael, the painter + sculptor - is seen setting the stage. A delightful garden scene is being created outside a gallery - the air is so fresh and clean after having pruned the garden and mowing the lawn. The stage is mostly comprised of wood - all natural - with no paint.

Michael is meticulous in his manner - everything has to be just so . . . there is no one else around.

" ta - ta. [ patting the vase set on a stand ] Oh , what a wonder this shall be . . . " [ glances at the bronze sculptures lying about - all in strategic placement ] + [ a sprinkler is lightly misting the scene - there are vases made up with tales painted on them - and they are then put into a kiln - everything is so colourful and bright ]

Evening is approaching - the chores are done and the stage is set - an audience is seen near the front of the stage. Michael is stepping up onto the stage from the left side and begins to speak . . .

[ a spot funnels down upon him - like a street lamp ]

" . . . and alone i stand [ waves his arm about at the artwork and garden - then faces directly to the audience / camera and then proceeds ] [ slight pause ] . . . here , [ again - waves his arms towards the art ] . . . in a view from the garden - in ALL its delight - i want to present to you - a tale of sorts . . . "

[ turning , Michael faces the camera again - a closeup on his face ]
beginning again - to relate the story [ Sets the stage ] " Marc, my father - will be seen at the gallery as a painter - and I - will be seen as the art dealer. Pavo - a gangster of sorts - stands amid the painting at the gallery - turning up the collar of his long coat " [ lights out - cuts away to the scene in the gallery ]

[ lights on low - to scene set on the stage ]

Michael then turns [ lights out ] and a smaller funnel of light envelopes the gangster [ Pavo ] - standing alone - studying a single painting - hanging on a wall - in the gallery. Slowly - Pavo turns up the collar of his coat - and gives a small shiver. The lights open slightly - opening to another person standing in the gallery - watching the gangster [ Michael - playing the art dealer ]. Another figure emerges from behind a wall and enters the scene . This figure [ Marc - playing an artist ] also observes the gangster. Michael is set back slightly from the two. [ Lights are set on each of them and the artwork ]

Marc - turning to the audience / camera - begins a little dialogue.

" . . . a marvelous anecdote about viewing a work of art in the National Museum in London . . . I saw this gangster, who turns his coat up - as if a sudden chill is in the air. I walk over [ to Pavo ] to inquire about the reaction of the gangster. The gangster turns to me and says . . . " [ Focus is now on Pavo - under slightly brighter light - who now turns to face the audience / camera, and saying . . . ]

" . . . that picture gives me a chill . . . "

[The painter - Marc - turns to the gangster and says . . . ]

"Yes [ pauses - and looking around, continues ] . . . That's the idea of this! That's Art - Mister . . . "

[ Marc, taking two ( 2 ) steps and facing the gangster - adding ]

" . . . It's what you feel - not what you see . . ."

[ The painter closes his eyes and puts his hand to an ear ] - saying
". . . the wind is cold . . . "

[ lights are only on Marc - low - as he puts his finger in front of his lips - and quietly making the sound ] . . . shh!

[ Lights out on Marc ]

Michael - as lights open slightly - is seen standing alone on the stage - speaking quietly . . .

" And so it goes! Well, it would be kind of neat to be in a film with my father [Marc]. "

" You and i know how difficult it is to pull imagination to the bus stop of reality - but it costs nothing to think about it . . ."

" Best of luck! I'll be hearing from you."

Cheers again. Michael.

[ lights go out - and then, as they come back on - the cast is now seen bowing to the audience / camera ]

[ lights out ]

END.

This Dialogue / Story began with a conversation 15 years ago between Michael Lawrence + Richard Lubrich - in a Garden Setting outside of Michael's Studio in West Los Angeles. Michael painted mostly in his garden and I would study / photograph him in this setting. The results of many years of documenting Michael Lawrence lead to the idea of 'A View from the Garden'. Now, ten [ 10 ] years later - Michael is being celebrated for his artwork in Hydra, Greece - where he has set up residency as an artist there - [ Link to Hydra Artists ]. In an issuing conversation about the years that have passed [ via a telephone conversation + a letter from Michael ] I re-created a vehicle with the dialogue to encompass the past and as well, the letter addressed to me - and wrote this "staged letter" of sorts. The contents are being used to create a Stage Play and eventually . . . it will be brought to the screen in terms of a film - based upon the relationship of artists' and society. Creativity has thus once again taken on a different dimension in the discourse that shall follow in the dialogues to come . . . [ View Michael Lawrence's art in our gallery ] . . . enjoy . . .

- Richard Lubrich - August 2001

© 2002 'A View from the Garden' -
an excerpt from a work in progress by a Leonardo Studios Production

. . . and from a Posting - of another dear friend

                                   ( in Switzerland ) i present . . .

"An Impressionistic & Synergistic Relationship . . ."

'Djerban Sunset' © Christof Hoefliger 2002

. . . i originally met Christof Hoefliger through SETI Synergy - an Australian
Sub-Group of SETI ( that searches for Extraterrestrial Life ) with over 4
Million Individuals linked by their computers . . . through Distributed Computing . . .

Christof recently did some artwork - incorporating some Photograph's that he
has taken in Buchs, Switzerland - where he and his family reside . . .

The Artwork is done with an 'Impressionistic' touch. I believe my friend has
done some extremely interesting re-working of his photographs - as depicted by
his 'Djerban Sunset' above . . .

You will find Christof Hoefliger's Homepage here . . . (click on the Link)