TDM Artist Spotlight: Caitlin Smith Rapoport
What inspires you as an artist and creative?
Staying open, observant, and curious is how I feed my creativity. Inspiration can come from anywhere. It could be a story a stranger tells me, an odd streak of light hitting the pavement, an amalgamation of smells or sounds that give me a feeling to try and translate. The key is slowing down enough to really look, listen, and wonder.
What excites you about this TDM production?
I've always loved working with puppets, because they can be more truthful than us. There's something about that little bit of distance that allows them to get to the core of who we are as humans, as animals, in all our complex messiness, and allows us to sit with it. In the world of the Poacher, every conscious being is flawed, and I love that. We exist more on the edges than in the center.
What has it been like collaborating with the team on this project? What's been a memorable moment so far on this production?
It's been such a pleasure working with this entire team, everyone is so unique and talented. The students are so smart, and game, and adept. I'm always impressed by what they've achieved in their time with Kate and the other artists. My favorite part of every collaboration is tech, when we get to all be together in the same room, putting the pieces together.
What projects are you working on next?
I'm lighting a new evening length work for Nashville Ballet about their city's history- from paleolithic times to the present!
Photo Credit: Gregory Katsoulis