Animental (Barbara Schauwecker, Sara Shapouri, Lazer) Animental explores the ideas of innate reactions and behavior of animals vs. the programmed or acceptable actions of the human animal. It hopes to empower the individual who is performing as well as transport the audience to another realm of reality. Inspiration, freedom, hope, creativity, individuality, power, and feminism are things Animental hopes to transpire. We use sound, costumes, movement, storytelling, props, lights and what ever else the participants and performers bring. no performance is like the other.

"Lizard Lounge" (2009) is two free standing sculptures and a performance intended to honor the Police Academy and lizard villagers who originally inhabited Elysian Park..As a continuing tradition in the park, all lizards will be welcomed at the lounge with fresh water and a shady colorful habitat. They will frolic among the lemon blossoms, succulents, and dirt. Lizards have a nomadic way of life, touring across treacherous terrains to reach the paradise like conditions of Los Angeles. Only in their wildest dreams would lemonade and cake be served. They also come here in celebration of the birth of the planet, and the parallel circles of life in heaven and earth, frequently quoting the Yin and Yang of East meets West. You might find the more eccentric lizards singing songs and salaciously scurrying at this natural stage in hopes to inspire other to continue creating and sharing in an environment of feeling and instincts. Though paradise is sweet, like the lemon, it is also sour, and the lounge may suffer without love and care and a little water. Installation of a hose so that the lizards may reproduce would be especially helpful. Lemonade stand forthcoming.

http://www.touchbutts.com/animental/
http://www.myspace.com/animentaltheband

DIRECTIONS TO EPMOA for 4/25/09

BY BUS OR WALKING / BIKING
you can take the 2, 4, or 704 to Echo Park Ave and Sunset Blvd, and then walk, or take the DASH north to Avalon and Echo Park Ave (0.7 miles). From here there is a massive staircase going up to the right (east). At the top of the stairs, continue walking uphill, taking a right on Avon St., then continuing uphill, curving to the right on Duane St. until it ends at Park Drive. From there, walk down the trail until you reach a juncture (~150 feet). take the middle fork, continuing straight and level, for another 150 feet or so. once you exit the bushes there will be visible a tree with many trunks, on a small rise about 100 feet in front of you. this is where we are!

BY CAR
parking is available at the top of the western ridge of Elysian Park, on Park Drive, until 8 pm. The closest street number to the trail head is 1960 Park Drive, LA CA 90026. From there, walk down the trail until you reach a juncture (~150 feet). take the middle fork, continuing straight and level, for another 150 feet or so. once you exit the bushes there will be visible a tree with many trunks, on a small rise about 100 feet in front of you. this is where we are!

if you are coming from the east or north, it might be easier to park at the bottom of the canyon, on Chavez Ravine Rd. Entering the park from any direction, follow signs for "Grace E. Simons Lodge"... Chavez Ravine Rd is to the left as you approach the lodge. After parking, continue by foot on the road you drove in on (Elysian Park Drive) until you reach a gate. Past the gate look for the first trail heading steeply up to the right. This should lead you right to the tree on top of the hill!

A NOTE
there are many ways to enter the interior of a park.