Capturing the History of One Yellow Rabbit
When Andy Curtis began capturing photographs of his friends and One Yellow Rabbit colleagues in 1984, he never intended to create a time capsule.
Now, those photos take on a new life as Andy exhibits his curated collection in parts, releasing new photographs and inside stories on One Yellow Rabbit’s Instagram page every Friday. His digital exhibition pulls back the curtain and invites audiences to a behind-the-scenes look at the history of One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre.
Andy, a Calgary-based performance artist, joined the One Yellow Rabbit ensemble in 1984, when the self-described “punk rebel upstart troupe of ‘creatives’” had just begun making their mark on Calgary’s cultural landscape. Since 1987, Andy has toured internationally with One Yellow Rabbit for numerous shows including What The Thunder Said, Munich Now, People You May Know, Schlachter Tango, Kawasaki Exit, Gilgamesh La-Z-Boy, Dream Machine, Thunderstruck, and Doing Leonard Cohen. In 2007, he received the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist Award alongside the One Yellow Rabbit ensemble.
Not limited to his career with the Rabbits, he also co-founded Black Radish Theatre and has enjoyed an extensive career in the local arts community working with various Calgary theatres including Theatre Calgary, Alberta Theatre Projects, Lunchbox Theatre, Quest Theatre, and Stage West.
On the road to becoming the internationally acclaimed company it is today, One Yellow Rabbit has brought a unique flavour of eclectic and innovative performance theatre to Calgary and beyond. This unique journey can now be experienced through Andy’s collection.
Snapping History with a Sony A 65
Andy first became interested in photography during his time in university, with a particular passion for faces and the mechanics of a physical camera. Upon joining One Yellow Rabbit, he picked up his camera and began casually snapping photos with a Super Takumar 50 mm f1.4 lens at rehearsals and hanging around colleagues, not realizing he was capturing history in the making.
“Looking back on it, you realize that you have captured pivotal moments in a time capsule,” says Andy.
Now, he looks back on his photographs and remembers some of the iconic moments he has captured over his 30+ years of taking pictures behind-the-scenes. Andy recounts photographing the rehearsals of Fat Jack Falstaff’s Last Hour and documenting his dear friend and colleague John Murrell as personal highlights.
He remembers “capturing a lot of laughter, smiles, and the life force of John Murrell that he brought to the room and the theatre.”
From One Yellow Rabbit's production of What The Thunder Said. Pictured here: Michael Green and Peter Hinton
Making Memories Through a Lens
For Andy, the power of photography lies in not only capturing memories, but creating them.
“[Taking photographs] becomes more than just pointing and clicking. It somehow transforms into understanding the moment you are a part of that is unique to everyone in that room. The meaning of a photograph evolves over its existence from a snapshot to a rare and precious memory.
“These memories become so important. You don’t realize it until you look back,” says Andy. Over the years, the performance artist has become more aware that the photos he is taking now will mean something more in the future.
“Our time together can be so short and to have something to take our mind back to those happy and creative moments is wonderful.”
His only regret? Not taking more photographs.
“Often I will look back and realize there are faces I wish I captured and sorely miss the ones I didn’t take to take.”
From One Yellow Rabbit's production of What The Thunder Said. Pictured here: Blake Brooker and Denise Clarke
Having unknowingly captured the evolution of One Yellow Rabbit, Andy looks fondly at the time capsule he has built. But according to him, his collection of photographs is an “incomplete document,” — the story of One Yellow Rabbit is far from over.
“I see a history being made. I see us growing.”
