UPDATE: Adam Stone is raising money for his 2015 projects with a campaign on Indiegogo. The artist hopes to bring in $9,000, which would help pay for both his own works as well as collaborations with Buntport Theater and others.
It's not out of line to think of Adam Stone as Buntport Theater's fifth Beatle. But even the members of Buntport's close-knit company saw that their some-time collaborator, a keen sound artist (as The Indestructible North) and multimedia genius who's given new music and shape to four of their original plays, had work to do of his own. In February, Buntport announced that it would enter a free-form alliance with Stone, who would produce four shows this season at Buntport under the moniker of Screw Tooth.
See also: 100 Colorado Creatives: Matthew Hunzeker
From all indications, Screw Tooth's first independent show -- Some Kind of Fun, which opens Friday, August 30 -- won't be quite like anything an audience has seen before, at Buntport or anywhere else. That made us even more curious about this creative adventurer, whose primary occupation is "making stuff." We invited Stone to tackle our 100CC questionnaire; read on for a peek into the stuff in his mind.
Westword: If you could collaborate with anyone in history, who would it be, and why?
Adam Stone: I'd like to organize a three-way collaboration between myself, John (author of the book of Revelation), and Michael Bay on an apocalyptic metal-opera. I love to see big things hitting other big things (hence Michael Bay) and John would bring a world of creatures more terrifying than anything modern horror has yet to offer.
Who in the world is interesting to you right now, and why?
I'm just going to list them, because there are too many to go into details about each. People are making things all the time and everywhere, and I'm excited by so much of it.
Death Grips, Le Dernier Cri (Pakito Bolino, Caroline Sury, Sam Rictus, and more), Brian Chippendale, Gottfried Helnwein, Olivier de Sagazan, David Shrigley, Tom Philips, Michael Robinson, Katharina Grosse, Zak Smith, Kvelertak, Jake and Dinos Chapman, The Chariot, Peeping Tom, Die Antwoord, Roger Ballen, Crispin Glover, SLOTHRUST, Young Jean Lee, Martin McDonough, and -- holy shit -- this list doesn't begin to cover a fraction of the people in the world making things that excite me.
Continue reading for more from Adam Stone. What's one art trend you want to see die this year?Anything that can't stand alone without a plaque nearby to explain it.
What's your day job?
Amateur dentistry.
A mystery patron offers you unlimited funds for life. What will you do with it?
Give it to someone who has better financial instincts and more global awareness. They'd know what to do with it. I just make stuff.
What's the one thing Denver (or Colorado) could do to help the arts?
One of the most exciting aspects of Denver's art scene is how internally supportive the community is. Fostering and supporting the creation of new work is essential.
Who is your favorite Colorado Creative?
Buntport Theater is one of the most exceptional theater companies I've ever come across in Colorado or elsewhere. I consider it a true privilege to have had the opportunity to collaborate with them. Simply speaking quantitatively, they have generated a massive amount of original work. Creating three or four shows for the past thirteen years is an accomplishment in itself, but what is even more astounding is the breadth of what they've tried and how they've experimented and succeeded within the form of theater.
With each show, they've managed to push themselves into new territory with unfamiliar elements that challenge them to invent solutions which are consistently impressive and brilliant. Combining this technical inventiveness with a high quality of writing, genuine intellectual curiosity and a generosity of performance to their audiences, they've not only created something that deserves a position of high regard within the Colorado theater community, but are a company whose book (once they publish one) should be a staple in theater and arts education.
Continue reading for more from Adam Stone. What's on your agenda for the rest of 2013 and beyond?Currently, my new company Screw Tooth is about to begin its first season, which will include four original live shows, and other events as well. The first, entitled Some Kind of Fun, opens August 30. Its cast of seventeen -- with an age range spanning fifty years -- includes performers of all different disciplines and training, and the show itself is a performance in perpetual motion that takes place in 360 degrees around the audience. I've been writing for it and directing and designing. Once that opens, I'll be working on The Indestructible North (the name I perform music under), continuing to write and perform new music, and working on the upcoming Screw Tooth shows.
Who do you think will get noticed in Denver this year?
Maria Kohler aka Kitty Crimes. She's going to be huge. Visit Adam Stone's web page or the Screw Tooth blog site for more information. Throughout the year, we'll be shining the spotlight on 100 superstars from Denver's rich creative community. Stay tuned to Show and Tell for more, or visit the 100 Colorado Creatives archive to catch up.
Do you have a suggestion for a future profile? Feel free to leave your picks in the comments.