by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
The executive director of a local arts organization is trying to convince the Caravan Stage Barge theater company to make Jacksonville its home port for the winter.
Mark Rinaman, who runs the Brooklyn Arts & Design Center and was recently elected to the board of Caravan, is pushing for a permanent home for the troupe.
“Bringing in a non-profit sister organization as a member of Brooklyn would be another step forward for Brooklyn,” said T.C. “Bhodi” Sheridan, director of operations at the Brooklyn Arts & Design Center. “The concept of Brooklyn is to bring in artists of different disciplines. Mark, as an engineer, had a dream project that involves designing and building floatable infrastructure platforms that can be used for arts and entertainment or emergency response. He got into the Caravan Stage Barge because it was a smaller scale of what he wanted to do with the same concept. He got into that when they came to town the first time and that’s how he became their host. He’s been driving to get them to move here to Jacksonville.”
Sheridan said having Caravan here would enhance the local arts community.
“It brings that cultural element into Jacksonville and adds that to our community here,” said Sheridan. “Particularly if we could find a permanent home for the Amara Zee downtown somewhere, like Berkman Plaza, the Shipyards area, the Riverwalk; even if they don’t have a performance going on, it adds to the scenery and the maritime culture down here.”
Originated in 1970 by Paul Kirby and Adriana Kelder, the caravan began on land as a one-wagon puppet show traveling through Vancouver Island and later evolved into a six-wagon team pulled by Clydesdale horses. In 1993, the idea crystallized to recreate a version of the Thames River Sailing Barge to serve as their venue. At 90 feet tall, the ship holds a complete lighting and sound system, in addition to hydraulics, generators and both sail and diesel power. The Amara Zee can navigate any waterway and perform dockside at any location. To fund the venture, $2 million was raised so the Amara Zee (translated “Heart of the Sea Goddess”) could take to water in 1997. Donations and sponsorships are the main ways they keep the ship afloat and keep admission price low, if there’s a cost to the audience at all.
“The majority of their equipment is from in-kind donations,” said Sheridan. “They’re bohemian-type people. Paul and Adriana Kelder were Canadian hippies who ran an underground magazine.”
Manned by the organization’s founders, Amara Zee has sailed into Jacksonville twice before. Only original, contemporary works are featured. When they’re not putting on a show, the cast and crew offer deck tours, lectures and workshops. Deck tours are complimented with performance antics and animation by the actors. The lectures address five subjects: working a tall ship, open-air theater, experimental theater, starting a non-profit organization and culinary arts on a tall ship. Group workshops will be available to introduce students to environmental theater and theater design/staging.
“During off-season, they build new sets and costumes,” said Sheridan of the Caravan crew’s winter activities. “We’re hoping to get three people from Jacksonville on their tour next year.”
Presently, the ship docks in St. Petersburg but if all goes as planned, the Amara Zee will make Jacksonville her permanent port.
Caravan will be in town this spring for the Tall Ship Festival. The troupe will perform “Red Tides,” a piece which explores the history of human civilization using metaphor. To evoke a dream-like ambiance, the avant-garde play will showcase dance, poetry, song, aerial artistry, special lighting effects and fire. Docking space has been reserved for the festival in front of the T-U Center.