art happens

Cassie Truskowski (known to many as Miss Pussykatt) is overseas in the UK and Dublin, Ireland until September 12th. I had the opportunity to catch her during her limited time on the internet to pose the following questions about Cirque Grand which will be showing outside at The B.O.B.

Grace: What exactly is your ArtPrize entry? What do you hope to obtain by entering?
Cassie: Imagine stepping into a surreal world, with trees that come to life, animals that talk, circus performers dancing in the air and tumbling at your feet, music and costumes take you somewhere new. This interactive show brings a whole new world right in front of your eyes. The story is told through, Dance, Circus Arts, Music, Clowns, Roaming characters, Stilt Walkers, jugglers and even more. Let yourself go, and dive into live circus performance art. Students that I have been teaching at For The Kidz Gym, kids, adults, and some of my own group members will be the various performers bringing this to life, as well as myself. I want to show people that anyone can do this and that you don’t have to be a acrobat from Russia to be in a circus, you can be anyone, and you can do anything!

Art Prize will give me that ability to start A Circus School in Grand Rapids, to give the same joy and laughter to kids and adults alike. To be involved in something that will stretch the imagination, to bring dreams to reality, to push the body and the mind, I want to give my gift to the world, and make its home in Grand Rapids.

The mission is to ignite imagination, build community, and promote social justice through performances and hands on experiences in the arts of circus. With beauty, and elegance, this Cirque Du Soliel style performance is from Grand Rapids with hope to help enrich our community.
A collaboration of circus artists, children and adults. Artists that possess a passion to entertain and have a love for being on a stage. The Art Prize money (if won) will help allow Grand Rapids to have its own Circus School, with its doors open to anyone that has ever had an interest in Circus, or just wants somewhere to let loose and have fun.

Grace: What emotion or reaction are you trying to invoke in the audience? Who is your target audience or would you just like as many people as possible to be involved?
Cassie: I want people to let go of their everyday lives, to engage in something visually that can take them away from their everyday worries and troubles. Letting go, Seeing something they maybe have never seen before, I want kids to watch and say “mom, dad, this is something I want to do”
I want Adults to say it too! Showing people you can do anything if you put your mind to it!
I hope they laugh, I hope they cry, I hope they are moved. Appreciation for Circus Art, and what we are giving them, A free show, with emotion, skill, love and laughter, and you usually have to pay over 100 (dollars) to see that in Cirque Du Soliel! Help us open a Circus School and bring real life big production shows right here in our own city.

Cassie’s ArtPrize Entry
Miss Pussykatt’s Official Website
Cassie’s Myspace
Facebook Page for Cirque Grand