About robert martin a.k.a. prof

The State Theater is located half a block from the Fox Theater. It opened as  the Palms Theater for Kunsky-Loew’s Theaters on October 29, 1925, it was  built on the site of the (first) Grand Circus Theater (1913-1924). It  was equipped with a Wurlitzer theater organ. Renamed State Theater, on  June 18, 1928 it screened its first ‘talkie’:“Glorious Betsy” starring  Dolores Costello & Conrad Nagel. On May 22, 1937 it was renamed Palms-State Theater. Later operated by  United Detroit Theaters it was renamed State Theater again. It was  closed as a movie theater in 1983. After several years laying empty, it  became Clubland, a dance club/concert hall from September 28, 1989. The State Theater was taken over by Live Nation and in 2007 was re-named  The Fillmore. It was restored in 2018, reopening in October 2018.

Voudou Journey is a live interactive digital video performance controlled with a shoulder midi keyboard and gloves controller. The title of this work is inspired by Haitian, Brazilian,  Cuban, Trinidad, and other cultures that conduct Voudou ceremonies (a  religion of some people of Africa). Other influences are the performances of Bauhaus choreographer Oskar Schlemmer’s work. Voudou, the faith, and  Schlemmer’s work are meant to reflect their most noted characteristics,  a melody of sense and non-sense characterized by color, form, nature, art, and mixed media. This work incorporates animation with audio using improvised qualities found in jazz. My music is also influenced by the music of John Coltrane, John Cage, and African Voudou rhythms. Overall, this performance will introduce its audience to a work that constantly displays a natural interactive mixture of art and life.