RAQUEL BELL - CV

Current Projects:

ASTROLOGY BALLET - The Astrology Ballet (Dance Company/Workshops/Dance Films) The Astrology Ballet has been a way to explore the vastness of the cosmos in dance and in relationship to the human body. The wisdom of the I Ching, Shamanism, Ancient Egyptian Tarot, and Astrology inform the infinite possibilities of movement and inform the relationships of dancers to environments and to each other. Explorations typically culminate in live performances or experimental dance films (Los Angeles, CA)

GALECSTASY - Live Performance, Composition, Video-installation & Recording Duo with Primary Mystical Experience (Los Angeles, CA). Physical releases on LO Recordings (London, UK) + Aural Canyon (Austin, TX)

ANIMAL BALLET - The Astrology Ballet production of a Dance-Film & Live Multimedia Peformance event with original film and score by Galecstasy, live dancing, video-synthesizers, special effects & animation (Premiered in Marfa, TX for Marfa Open Arts Festival) Winner Artist of the Year

LEAFBLOWER - Solo synthesizer compositions, experimental films and live performance. Physical releases on Umé Records (Tokyo, Japan) + Aural Canyon (Austin, TX)

GANJISLAND - Original Experimental Music with Lisa Cameron, physical releases on Sister Skull Rekkids (Austin, TX)

CV SELECTIONS:

2024: CULTUREHUBLA - Galecstasy hired for an artist residency at The Reef building in Los Angeles. We filmed performance artist/dancer Valerie Mccann with night vision cameras and edited the movements into animation blocks to be used with software programs Resolume and OBS. 3 projectors were mapped to the CULTUREHUBLA studio walls. The final performance was attended by a live audience and simultaneously live-streamed to a wider audience. The performance included an interactive animation projection mapped around Mccann and a broadcast that included live video interwoven with the animation. Mccann’s recitation of text was manipulated through modular synthesis with additional sound design and effects. The residency specifically called for the use of technology to further artistic expression. - Los Angeles, CA

2024: Pieter Performance Space - “Heavenly Bodies” an Astrology Ballet dance workshop. Dancers find their place in the zodiac based on their individual astrological chart and explore profound truths of our solar system in practical ways for enriched embodiment, personal empowerment, and artistic expression - Los Angeles, CA

2024: ICOSA Collective - Presents the LEAFBLOWER Record “Dew Magic” for an audio installation September 16 - October 18 from sunrise to sunset in the gallery -Austin, TX

2024: LUCKY CAT LABS - Group Art Show in downtown Los Angeles featuring new work: Glimmersonica (Oil, Acrylic, Ink on 8’x4’ wood panel) -Los Angeles, CA

2024: 2220 Arts+ Archives & Late Breakfast - “Dew Magic” Record release celebration with three of my Experimental Films, Solo Performances & The Leafblower Orchestra with Shelley Burgon, Dustin Wong, Primary mystical Experience, No Translation -Los Angeles, CA

2024: Akira Sakata Trio - special live performance with Akira Sakata on Sax/vocal, Jared Marshall on drums, Bell on synth/percussion/vocals at Zubar Artist Space presented by Umé Records - Tokyo, Japan

2024: Music Portraits A drawing show by Rachid Bouhamidi - opening ceremony - shamanic musical performances by Galecstasy & Arrington de Dionyso -Los Angeles, CA

2023: SPRING/Break ARt Show Curator of exhibition by artist Greg Haberny -Los Angeles, CA

2023: Nathan Ober’s Automatadrone at The Firehouse - Galecstasy opening night special performance inside art/sound drone installation by inventor-artist Nathan Ober. Art Film of the event by Greg Haberny - Joshua Tree , CA

2022: 2220 Arts + Archives, Live Visuals using the Hypno video synthesizer (which I build for Sleepy Circuits) for Marshall Trammell, Tashi dorji, Aaron Turner, Patrick Shiroshi, Kazue Matsumoto - Los Angeles, CA

2022: High Desert Test Sites & Yucca Valley Material Lab present a night of experimental improvised music featuring Galecstasy Trio with Mike Watt on bass - Joshua Tree, CA

2022: Leafblower live at The PS KAUFMAN Gallery for the record release of “Drum Art” a new record by Primary Mystical Experience (Drum Art features my percussion) - Los Angeles, CA

2022: Orb Servant on Weird Cry records - the cassette release of an all drumming/percussion record featuring Lisa Cameron & Primary Mystical Experience - Ojai, CA

2022: Celebrity Basketball Tournament - Live Visual Synthesizer projections & Lighting design with audio special effects, art direction for a benefit celebrity basketball game - Los Angeles, CA

2022: Performed & Recorded with Galecstasy & The Galactic Love Orchestra featuring Aboubacar Sylla, master percussionist from Guinea West Africa, Rob Magill (saxophone) & Logan Kane (bass) - Los Angeles, Topanga, Ojai, CA

2022: Marshall Trammell Artist Residency Co-Hosted world renowned Drummer & activist with Yucca Valley Material Lab - Yucca Valley, CA

2022: City of Austin Cultural Arts Division - Grant Recipient - Austin TX

2022: Designed & Installed Original outdoor Light Installation for private retreat center at the park entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, CA

2021: MARFA OPEN Art Festival, Artist in residence with Galecstasy and members of the Astrology Ballet. Photography, films, dance, multimedia. Premier of the Animal Ballet Film with live accompaniment and dancers, Awarded Artists of the Year - Marfa, TX

2021: Body Harmony with Crystal Cat - Movement/Dance Workshop exploring metaphysical concepts within choreography for balance and health - Brianhead, UT

2021: La Matadora Gallery, group exhibition, East Village J Tree, Deity Paintings, Acrylic on watercolor paper - Joshua tree, Ca

2021: LEAFBLOWER, solo synthesizer compositions on neon green cassettes with original videos, released on Aural Canyon records - Austin, TX

2021: CALIFORNIA LITE, Group Show for Arcade Project Curatorial/Artsy & Julie Rico - photographs of wild animals in the california desert illuminating impact of forest fires - New York, NY

2021: Binary Star, release of original synthesizer meditation record by composition/performing duo Galecstasy on Aural Canyon record label - Austin, TX

2021: NIGHT VISIONS, Original Photos and Videos including the Night Visions video pack for purchase with the Hypno video synthesizer by Sleepy Circuits. Video art using the Hypno & original film footage shot on night vision cameras at night in the California desert - Joshua Tree, CA

2020: Original Dance Film and Score for Barefoot Dance at the Taipei International Convention Center, with live virtual performance - Taipei, Taiwan

2020: La Matadora Gallery, group exhibition, Fools Gold - Original Watercolor Paintings - Joshua tree, CA

2019: ART QUEEN GALLERY - Galecstasy live performance inside art installation by artist in residence Greg Haberny - Joshua Tree, CA

2019: SURPRISE - debut studio album by Galecstasy release on cassette on Aural Canyon record label - Austin, TX

2019: MARFA OPEN Art Festival, GALECSTASY + the Astrology Ballet live performance/video/dance - Marfa TX

2019: CRYSTAL CAT - Premier of a new composition for THE ROOM OF RESONANCE sound installation & live event curated by Lauren Gurgiolo featuring Jared Marshall (drums), Christopher Cox (bass), and the Tosca Strings - Austin, TX

2019: MONTEZ PRESS RADIO, Live radio Broadcast with GALECSTASY at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, Printed Matter L.A. Art Book Fair - Galecstasy performed live synthesizer and vocal improvised music as a duo and separately with voice-actor, Valerie Mccann - Los Angeles, CA

2019: SYNTHPLEX, GALECSTASY guest performance at synthesizer conference and festival - Burbank, CA

2019: 6 month Galecstasy MUSIC RESIDENCY, Grand Star Jazz Club in historic China Town, new & experimental music + dancers - Los Angeles, CA

2018: LA MATADORA GALLERY, Group Exhibition, DYS/function: Functional Art for our Dysfunctional World, The Deck of Embodiment on the Earthly Plane, tarot-style cards with original artwork based on years of shamanic study to inspire extraordinary living day by day - Joshua Tree, CA 

2018: COLLECTION RERT GALLERY, Group Exhibition, Woman and Wood, Redwood & Metal Sculpture - Austin, TX

2018: BLANTON MUSEUM OF ART, Live Performance/Installation by GALECSTASY for SOUNDSPACE musical series. Curated a sound installation and performance event in the main atrium of the Blanton Museum - Austin TX 

2018: NO IDEA FESTIVAL, Performed Live Improvised Music (vocals/organ with effects) with Greg Saunier (Deerhoof) & Rozie Jordan - Austin TX

2018: ReCoreographing Ourselves with Debora Hay Part 3, Dance/Movement Training with renowned choreographer Deborah Hay - Austin TX

2018: Helplessness Makes Patients Hard To Please, Composed/Performed Live Musical Score on synthesizer with vocal text recitation for Valerie McCann’s dance premier at Pieter Performance Space - Los Angeles, CA

2017: City of Austin Cultural Arts Division - Grant Recipient - Austin TX

2017: TINY FUEGO, COLLECTION RERT GALLERY, Solo Art Exhibition, watercolor paintings, illustrations & ceramics - Austin, TX 

2017: PIETER PERFORMANCE SPACE, GoingInLikEPigsplaylikeDogsattheAltar, A Dance peformance of a ritual village scene. Composed live sound & performed with Valerie McCann & Devika Vasanthi Wickremesinghe - Los Angeles, CA

2017: BODY AS VOICE: Restorative Movement Psychotherapy with Survivors of torture & Trauma. Completed a workshop addressing techniques through body awareness & dance. Taught by Amber Gray, Advisor to the United Nations on emergency response implementation in war/natural disaster zones - Austin, TX

2017: ReCoreographing Ourselves with Debora Hay part 1, Dance Training for 10 dancers with renowned choreographer Deborah Hay - Austin, TX

2017:  NO IDEA FESTIVAL, Original Costumes & Choreography performed with Robin Williams (dancer) & international musicians Ramón del Buey, Lê Quan Ninh, Fernando Vigeuras - Austin, TX

2016: BLANTON MUSEUM OF ART, SOUNDSPACE: INSIDE/OUT,  Live Organ/Vocals with visual cues by dancers from House of Enzo, designed by Zac Traeger, performed with Thor Harris & Justin Scheibel - Austin, TX

2016: AN OPERATIC TRIBUTE TO KLAUS NOMI, Strange Bird Showcase: selected to Compose and Perform original music insipired by the life of Klaus Nomi - Austin, TX

2016: TRANSCENDENT POWER OF DRUMMING, Studied percussion & trance inducing rhythms (African & Haitian) with master drummer, Steve Leicach, Omega Institute - Rhinebeck, NY

2015: The REAL WORLD LAS VEGAS, Painted 3 large murals and curated artwork for MTV show - Las Vegas, NV

2015: MAGGOTS 2 RICHE$, NEW MUSIC ART & SOUND SUMMIT (NMASS), Co-Created a movement/sound performance inspired by the album maggot Brain with Daphane Park & Derrick Barnicoat including original costumes, choreography, composition and my original instrument the 5 foot giant Balloon Rattle  - Austin, TX

2015: ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, MUSEUM OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT, Creation of original artwork on hand cut polycarbonate records with original recorded music in collaboration with Adam Smith (Lathe cutting studio). Residency culminated in performance event “PAIN BALLS”, a live guided musical meditation journey & featuring artwork created during the residency - Austin, TX

2015: Christine Sun Kim, SOUND + VISION, Original Composition for deaf artist, Sun Kim. Composed & recorded music that was lowered in register and played through large sub woofer speakers so that deaf audience members could experience the vibrations & sounds - Austin, TX

2011-2016: Toured USA/Canada with NORMAL LOVE, DARK TIPS & MESIKO (Original experimental music ensembles). Performed at many festivals including Eclectic Electric in Ontario, Canada & Montreal International Jazz Festival. Received New Music America Grant with Normal Love - New York, NY

2012: Allegra Laviola Gallery - Durational live performance for artist Anne Koch’s “Dining Room” installation. New York, NY

2012: Motherlodge Festival, Performed interpretation of Ophelia in world premier of a retelling of Hamlet with music by The Slow Charleston and singer Bonnie “Prince” Billy - Louisville, KY

2011: NEW MUSEUM - FESTIVAL OF IDEAS FOR A NEW CITY, NEW YORK TEA CEREMONY by Artist Daphane Park, Created sound installation & live performance with Derrick Barnicoat - New York, NY

2010: SUPERCONDUCTOR, by Daphane Park at HONEYSPACE GALLERY (Manhattan), Created the sound design and movement for Park’s “orgone intensifying environment” in numerous incarnations of the installation - Austin, TX, New Orleans, LA, New York, NY

2010: FIREFALL - “R”, DANCE THEATRE WORKSHOP, Directed by John Jesurun, an ensemble multimedia performance - New York, NY

2007: HARRY PARTCH’S DELUSION OF THE FURY, JAPAN SOCIETY, Principal dancer/singer as Old Goat Woman in re-staging of Partch’s opera with all of his original instruments. Directed by John Jesurun & Musical Director, Dean Drummond - New York, NY

2005: HARRY PARTCH’S OEDIPUS, vocalist & dancer for NEWBAND/Peak Performances production Harry Partch Opera, Directed by Dean Drummond & Ridge Theatre Company - Montclair, NJ

GRADUATE of THE COLLEGE of SANTA FE (became New Mexico School of Art and Design before permanently closing)

2002 BFA - Summa Cum Laude