Carlyon’s memory continues to impact Richmond

Dance students will perform “MOVE: A Tribute to Richard Carlyon,” Saturday Sept. 26 at the Grace Street Theater.

Carlyon was a professor in the sculpture, art history and communication arts departments at VCU and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees when VCU was the Richmond Professional Institute. He was known for many types of art including dance, sculpture, film-making and painting. He died on Jan. 20, 2006 at age 75.

“It’s important in this age and this particular moment in history for students to witness the VCU community honoring someone who did so much. It is a huge outpouring from VCU and Richmond and that in itself is worthwhile to witness,”said Chris Burnside MOVE’s director and choregrapher.There will be three dances performed by students, three films by Carlyon and his quotes and artist statements recited by speakers, Burnside said.

“I consider it a great, great, great honor to be a part of this unprecedented expedition and this moment where Richmond is honoring this incredibly gifted, important, eloquent figure in our community,” Burnside said.

“MOVE” will feature a group dance performed by 11 students and choreographed by Burnside, a solo based on one of Carlyon’s videos performed and choreographed by Laura Schandelmeier – Carlyon’s niece who is a VCU alumna from Washington, D.C. – and a solo danced by senior dance and choreography major Felix Cruz, also choreographed by Burnside.

Cruz’ dance is based on a seven-minute video of Carlyon painting a canvas completely red. In his dance, Cruz said he would reenact this action.

“(When watching the video) I was in awe of how beautiful something so simple was.” Cruz said. “While I’m moving through phases I’m kind of the paintbrush moving about the stage.”

One of Carlyon’s films shows two dancers Doing the Shorty George, a dance from the movie “You Were Never Lovelier.” Carlyon edited the video, repeating footage and re-imagining it on film, Schandelmeier said.

“What I did was watch that film in slow motion and try to figure out how to re-imagine that into live choreography with all the repeats,” Schandelmeier said. “My challenge was to make this possible.”

There will be readings of Carlyon’s artist’s statements from his exhibits,