I'm Not From Here

"I'm Not From Here" was an ethereal delight...like a bedtime story that both relaxes and entertains! ... full review

This is a great show! My only regret is that I saw it during its second to last show so I wasn't able to get more people to see it! So many different facets of Jessie's art are combined to tell a very real narrative that at times reminded me of some of the best performance art that Andy Kaufman used to do -- that's not to say that it was derivative of Kaufman's work -- just that it gave me to the same feeling of misdirect when things happened that Kaufman was famous for. With her deadpan humor and unique talents, this is a show that you should check out, given the chance I know she's planning on trying to add it to other Fringes -- if we're lucky -- this plan will become a reality!... full review

From the beginning, the main character, Sylax, confirms his “otherworldly foreignness” with restless stream-of-consciousness, detached matter-of-fact humor and hesitantly quirky musings—all told by an analog taped recording relaying its words seemingly from a hollowed out, baby-mobile-bedecked television that's accompanied by a haunting cello being played in a barely lit corner of the stage. The artist has yet to be seen, her silvery, handmade cloth spacesuit protected from unruly first impression; if a major gesture of performance art is to spring the artist full force into the world, uninhibited, then this would make a reasonable starting point. Instead of flinching or cringing or protesting at the tentative awkwardness of it all, the view... full review

Jessie Proksa's I'm Not From Here is a smart and funny act. It is a kind of fantasy+autobiography about the search for 'feeling at home' somewhere. Part of what made this an intriguing experience for me was the mixture of media- cello and ukelele playing and singing own songs relevant to the story. I loved her beautiful hand-sewn 'space cloak' with huge hidden magician's pockets (flash back of the old-style comedian who'd pull stuff out of his big black overcoat)and exquisitely detailed lace collar and squashed pack of Camels cigarettes, etc. stitched in for color. But mainly I loved the white rope she used several times as a ‘horizon’- stretched out in front of her as a place in space –past, present or future? I’d like to hear that part ... full review