Solo Artists Meet Their Match at collision_theory

By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 3, 2011 6:20PM

collision_theory takes a creative approach to the blind date. The monthly series has been running for two years at Links Hall, pairing up unfamiliar musicians and dancers - essentially strangers who’d never worked together - for improvised, collaborative performances. We thought collision had wrapped up for the year in June when it held its season finale, but the series is resurfacing this month with a new set of collaborations.

For its November run, collision_theory will stray from its usual residence to grace Experimental Sound Studio the first three Sundays of the month. This Sunday’s installment will pair up Brian Labycz, an electronics-focused experimental musician whose instrument of choice as of late is the modular synth, with Ayako Kato, a Japan-born dance artist known for her compelling and expressive movements.

While unfamiliar with each other, neither are new to the experimental collaboration game - Labycz is an improve kingpin of sorts, playing host to both the Myopic Improvised Music Series and Heaven Gallery’s Protest Series, and Kato has been working with ensembles since ’98 through her production company Art Union Humanscape.

The run picks up again November 13, coupling local musical academic Julia Miller (who also plays in Auris and Gimlet Eye) with improviser and collision_theory co-curator Rachel Damon. The whole thing comes to an end Nov. 20 with a show by local composer Fred Lonberg-Holm (Valentine Trio, Lightbox Orchestra) and performance artist Mikey Rioux, Artistic Director of Chicago Dance Crash.

Collision Theory takes place November 6, 13 and 20 at Experimental Sound Studio, 5925 N Ravenswood, performances begin at 3 p.m., $5 admission