THE CHANNEL ISLANDS ORCHESTRAL SUITE, THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS VIRTUAL PRODUCTION, HAD ITS PREMIERE IN THE FALL OF 2019.

Commissioned by KuanFen Liu

Composed by Ashley Hoyer

Conducted by KuanFen Liu

Performed by Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra

Recorded by Barbara Hirsch (audio) Mark Smith (video)

Co-directors of The Channel Islands Orchestral Suite Project and co-instructors of Performing Arts 391 Production, Drs. Catherine Scott Burriss and KuanFen Liu introduce the virtual show and interviews with four experts who visited the class and advised the research and creative process: Composer Ashley Hoyer, Natural Resources Manager at the US Navy Bill Hoyer, Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait-Stenslie, and CSU Channel Islands Professor of Anthropology Dr. Jennifer Perry.

Music: “Santa Rosa” The Channel Islands Orchestral Suite

Virtual Background for Dr. Burriss: Photo of Painted Cave, Santa Cruz Island, Isaac Ortiz

Virtual Background for Dr. Liu: Photo of layers in a cliff face on Santa Rosa Island, Monica Pereira

Interviewer of Julie Tumamait-Stenslie: Daniel Collins

Interviewer of Dr. Jennifer Perry: Judy Kim

Interviewer of Bill Hoyer: Rachael Ball

Interviewer of Ashley Hoyer: Sabrina T. Moreno

Video Editor: Catherine Burriss

Image & Other Media Credits: Title image created by layering text and stock images over Aaron Zhong's copyrighted photograph, "Sunset over Inspiration Point, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands National Park" under a Creative Commons License; “California Indian Pre-contact Tribal Territories” California Indian Library Collections, Northern California Indian Development Council www.ncidc.org; “California tribes” Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license; “Channel Islands Orchestral Suite” premiere video, Mark Smith; Images of class trip to Santa Rosa Island, Catherine Scott Burriss, Judy Kim, Isaac Ortiz, Monica Pereira; “Californian Channel Islands map” Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license; “The Rainbow Bridge” public domain video featuring Julie Tumamait-Stenslie, National Park Service www.nps.gov.

“Witnessing History” is a series of virtual tableaux, presented in between each movement of the orchestral suite, and which draws on the theatrical tradition of tableaux vivants (“living pictures” in French), or static scenes created by performers posing together. The virtual version was created by sourcing images of moments in history, then photographing actors in poses that mirror or witness the historic people depicted.

These tableaux are a way for us to bear witness to the moments that impacted the native Chumash peoples who made the northern Channel Islands their home. Together these images tell the story of a once peaceful life interrupted by a Spanish expedition, from the devastating results of exposure to European illnesses, to the erasure of culture as the missionaries introduced a new way of life, to the ranches that were built on ancient native lands. The story culminates with a reconnecting to Chumash ancestral lands in the 2011 rowing of a tomol (Chumash boat) to Santa Rosa Island, the first one in over a hundred years to make the crossing.

Rachael Ball: Director, Concept Artist

Judy Kim: Contributor, Model

Daniel Collins: Contributor, Model

Elizabeth Reynoso: Contributor, Model

Sara Ruiz: Contributor, Model

Claudia Reyes : Contributor, Image Curation

Isaac A. Ortiz: Video Editor, Photographer

Image & Other Media Credits: (Tableau 1) Sa Hi Pa Ca (Once Upon A Time), West of the West, teachchannelislands.org; (Tableau 2) Meeting the Chumash, David W. Rickman, Into History; (Tableau 3) A baptism Conducted by California Mission Friars Sketch, A.B. Dodge and Alexander Harme, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, Catholic Voice Oakland; (Tableau 4) Smallpox Epidemic. Naztec Natives With Smallpox Contracted From The Spaniards Ministered To By A Medicine Man, Father Bernardino De Sahagun, 16Th Century Treatise “General History Of The Things Of New Spain”; (Tableau 5) Postcard image of Act I of the Mission Play depicting the first baptism of the Native Americans, Original found at San Gabriel Historical Museum; (Tableau 6) Maria Ygnacia Creek, Fresh Goleta History, Edhat Santa Barbara; (Tableau 7) Soldiers advancing to recapture Mission Santa Barbara, Alexander Harmer, Santa Barbara Historic Images; (Tableau 8) Bill Dewey Photography, Santa Cruz Island Foundation, scifoundation.org; (Tableau 9) tomol slideshow 036, Oakley Brooks, Ecotrust.org; (Tableau 9 image 2) Sunset at Dos Pueblos, Edhat Santa Barbara

As an introduction to this fantastic piece, we decided to highlight the incredible artists and team's words that made this production possible. The quotes appear imposed over some gorgeous imagery of the beautiful islands, nature, and culture surrounding the orchestral suite's inspiration. The students and staff of Fall 2020 PA 391 hope you enjoy this amalgamation of our artistic visions.

Rachael Ball: Director, Contributor

Judy Kim: Contributor, Quotations

Daniel Collins: Contributor

Claudia Reyes: Contributor

Elizabeth Reynoso: Contributor

Sara Ruiz: Contributor

Sabrina T. Moreno: Music Analyst

Isaac A. Ortiz: Video Editor

Image & Other Media Credits: SR-Sunset, Bill Hoyer; SN-aerial-NB, Bill Hoyer; Catalina-aerial-MB, Bill Hoyer; Anacapa-topdown-AY, Bill Hoyer; Santa Rosa, Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge, Getty Images; Santa Barbara: The Elusive Isle, Phillip Colla, DAN The Magazine of Divers Alert Network; Aerial view of Santa Cruz Island, Carol Highsmith, Library of Congress; Aerial view of [San Miguel] Island,Carol Highsmith, Library of Congress; San Clemente Island, San Clemente Island Organization, sci.org; The People of Santa Cruz, Ann Elizabeth Thiermann, GoletaHistory.com Dos Pueblos Chumash; Chumash Child, Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation, Wishtoyo.org; Creating authentic Chumash dwellings, Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation, Wishtoyo.org; A tomol, used to travel for trade, fishing and hunting, is on display at the Chumash Indian Museum in Thousand Oaks, Arlene Martinez, VCStar; Island fox in the wild, Tim Coonan, National Park Services NPS.gov; Channel island perch fish, Brett Seymour, National Park Services NPS.gov; San Miguel Beach-Seals, Tim Hauf, National Park Services NPS.gov; Inspiration Point, Tim Hauf, National Park Services NPS.gov; Conservation Banner, Catalina Island Conservancy (catalinaconservancy.org); Biologist holds a San Nicolas Island Fox, Montrose Settlements Restoration Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA.gov); Nursery Manager Kelle Green holds milkvetch, Channel Islands Restoration (cirweb.org); About Us, Channel Islands Restoration (cirweb.org); Image of Ranch on Santa Rosa Trip, Isaac Ortiz, Arriving to Santa Rosa, Issac Ortiz; Island Fox Picture, Monica Pereira; Santa Rosa Trip Pic, Isaac Ortiz; Group Of CI Students and Staff 2020 SR trip, Monica Pereira

Full Quotes:

Gosh, I don't even know where to start. I will have to say that it was an honor and privilege to work on this production about the Channel Islands. Everyone who is a part of it put their heart and souls into it and I'm happy to see what we have to share with all of you. ~Alexa Kurdelak~

When it comes to creativity, it has been the most challenging yet. However, we worked hard and pulled together some of the most creative projects one could see through a virtual space. ~Issac Ortiz~

As a life-long California resident I have seen the outline of the islands from the beach, but I never really knew the extent of their history! Just a horizon away a unique and beautiful ecosystem flourished and the veins of the land ran deep with Chumash history. ~Rachael Ball~

This project has given me a chance to really connect with the history behind this school and the area. The Channel Islands were something I never really paid much attention to until now. Thanks to this project, I understand how we are all connected and what story we want to share. ~Elizabeth Reynoso~

I'd like to give a shout out to my fourth grade teacher Mrs. Camarena for introducing and inspiring me with the Lone Woman story. It was also a great honor to work alongside such amazing artists with this collaborative piece. The Lone Woman story had stayed with me my entire academic years, it was a great pleasure to research further as well as hear amazing stories about the islands. ~Judy Kim~

This overture is an even-handed and open-minded experience for everyone. ~Simon Reyes~

Growing up as a Southern Californian it's crazy how little I knew about the Channel Islands. This is one of the first times I really got to connect with them and getting to tell some of their stories as an artist was extremely rewarding. ~Sara Ruiz~

This project gave me a new awareness of the Channel Islands, and the vital connection of all living creatures. ~Daniel Collins~

As a virtual production manager or virtual stage manager, my job was really different than what I was used to. However, I feel incredibly blessed to be on this Production Team. The expertise we pulled together and the willingness to experiment and try our own take on this new virtual theatre frontier is exciting although very stressful. It was awesome to have a team that works well together and I am especially grateful for Layla’s contributions to our Virtual Production Management team. I am also very proud of our students. When folks that are technical artists like me work with a group of creative leaders and artists that are as thoughtful and dedicated to the material as our students are, it makes the work that much more satisfying. As an artistic director outside of this position, it makes me beam that folks are looking around their rehearsal rooms, reading their literature, building their production and asking the questions “who are we missing?” and “where can we find the different perspectives on this?” It is super exciting to think that each of these students, no matter their industries in the future, will be able to go out and ask these questions and enrich their respective fields like that. Being on this team makes me proud to be a Dolphin! ~Cristy Rodriguez Rivas~

When I think about working on this show I feel an overwhelming senses of gratitude. I’m grateful that I got to learn about and amplify the many under-appreciated stories of the unique places and people that make up the Channel Islands. I’m grateful to have shared a journey of curiosity and creativity with such a talented and inventive group of students and colleagues. I’m grateful that we persisted and forged a path forward together, through pandemic-imposed restrictions, to make a delightful and inspiring performance we can all be proud to share with our campus community and the world. ~Catherine Scott Burriss~

A poetic rendition of the creation of the Chumash as received from Elder Julie.

Poem: “The Rainbow Bridge” by Daniel Collins

Daniel Collins: Writer, Narrator

Elizabeth Reynoso: Contributor

Isaac A. Ortiz: Video Editor

Simon Reyes: Sound Editor

Image & Other Media Credits: Hand watering young plant tree in soil Free HD Video Clips & Stock Video Footage at Videezy! Roof Gardening, YouTube; The Beauty of Santa Cruz Island (4k), Aquabirdy, YouTube; Amazing Nature Full HD 1080p :Time Lapse, TheChokeAAA, YouTube; The Turtle Story, a Native American Account of Earthquakes, SCEC, YouTube; -Nature - Milky way 01 - Free Stock Footage, Brain Studio, YouTube; Beachfront B-Roll: Lightning Storm (Free to Use HD Stock Video Footage), Beachfront B-Roll: Free Stock Footage, YouTube; Arizona Lightning - Free Stock Footage, CCR Zone, YouTube; Lightning Fire Storm in UHD 4K Northern Australia.GreenLight Stock Footage, Geoff Green, YouTube; Cooking Eggs (camp fire) 02 / Free Stock Footage, SVF TV, YouTube; Flying seagull stock footage, Aaron Marc, YouTube; Fire 08 / Free Stock Footage, Tracy Snowden, YouTube; Golden Light Rays Stock Footage Video Animation Loop Download, istockmoments, YouTube; Walking Through Surf and Kicking Up Spray, Videvo; Bonfire - Crown Dancing, donnarenee71, YouTube; Ha Long Bay by Air 12, Videvo; Light Bulb Turning On| Free HD Stock Footage, Video Farm, YouTube; Hands moving to hold each other on a black background, StockFootage.com, YouTube; Rainbow at Sea, Videvo; Feet walking balance in the Bridge, Trunk| Free HD Stock Footage, Video Farm, YouTube; Looking Down A Cliff Face at Crashing Waves // Free Stock Footage, Elemental Footage, YouTube; Moon in Cloudy Night Sky 3, Videvo; Sun Through Clouds, Videvo; Dolphins At Oxnard Sea California Racing Against Ship - Free Stock Footage, CCR ZONE, YouTube.

This piece is dedicated to the Lone Woman, Juana Maria, and San Nicolas Island's rich history. Our chosen poetic form and unique artistic style accompanies the orchestral piece and narrates Juana Maria's tale. Her story is highlighted through dramatic pauses in the haunting vocal solo capturing the feelings of shifting time, bringing her account to a close, ending the native habitation of San Nicolas Island.

Judy Kim: Voice Over, Sketch Artist

Rachael Ball: Contributor, Consultant

Elizabeth Reynoso: Contributor, Consultant

Sara Ruiz: Contributor Consultant

Catherine Burriss: Cinematography

Isaac A. Ortiz: Video Editor

The Lighthouse of the Island of Anacapa was built in 1912, and was the last major lighthouse constructed on the West Coast of the United States. We explore the beauty and resourcefulness of the guiding light of the Channel Islands National Park, a lighthouse that is still fully operational today.

Rachael Ball: Resource Collection

Alexa Kurdelak: Resource Collection

Sabrina T. Moreno: Resource Collection

Jerry Cruz: Music Analysis

Sabrina T. Moreno: Music Analysis

Simon Reyes: Editor

Image & Other Media Credits: Featuring excerpts from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "The Lighthouse" ~ Anacapa Island Lighthouse Photos, Various Photographers, https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=93 ~ Annual Report of the Lighthouse Board, various years. ~ Annual Report of the Commissioner of Lighthouses, various years. ~ Lighthouse Service Bulletin, various years. ~ “An Island All Their Own,” Bob Reilly, Independent Press-Telegram, May 7, 1967. ~ Channel Islands, Charles Hillinger, 1998. ~ Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses, Sharlene and Ted Nelson, 1993. ~ Channel Islands National Park, National Park Service pamphlet. ~ U.S. Coast Guard Archive Photo, Public Domain http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/USCGLightList.asp ~ Aerial Photo 2009, John Wiley, Wikipedia ~ Looking Across Santa Barbara Channel, User: Steevven1, Wikipedia ~ At Anacapa Island Light, Various Photographers, ~ https://tripbucket.com/dreams/dream/visit-anacapa-island-light-california/ ~ Anacapa Lighthouse Arch, Robert Schwemmer, https://marinelife.noaa.gov/media_lib/preview.aspx?ID=6187&p=img

Santa Barbara Island is home to several large seabird nesting colonies. Fourteen species of birds nest annually on the island. It is also home to the largest breeding colony for Scripps's murrelet, a threatened seabird species. We wanted to share with you our inspiration and interpretation of the many arrays of dances these seabirds may participate in.

Jerry Cruz: Dancer, Choreography

Pablo Baltazar: Dancer, Choreography

Daniel Collins: Dancer

TJ Ramirez: Dancer

Claudia Reyes : Dancer

Sarah Rivera: Dancer

Alexa Kurdelack: Image Sourcing

Jerry Cruz: Music Analysis

Sabrina T. Moreno: Dancer, Editor

Simon Reyes: Editor

Image & Other Media Credits: Signal Peek, Santa Barbara Island, Tim Hauf, Sunset Magazine; Marbles Murrelet at Sea, Thomas Hamer, Hamer Environmental L.P https://www.fws.gov/arcata/es/birds/MM/m_murrelet.html; Misc. Video Clips, Ashy Storm, UCSC Marine Conservation 2017; Flock of Birds Flying, Stock Video User: Pixelfusion3D, National Geographic Wild, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2qkMrFXQRs

Special Thank You to Santa Paula High School

A variety of imagery complements each segment of the poem and what it represents. We wanted to highlight the message portrayed within the orchestral piece and leave the audience members with their own takeaways from this piece.

Judy Kim: Music Analyst

Claudia Reyes: Image Collector

Sarah Rivera: Image Collector, Writer

Isaac A. Ortiz: Video Editor

Image & Other Media Credits: Animal Spot. "Fox Facts, Types, Classification, Habitat, Diet, Adaptations." Animal Spot, 26 Nov. 2019; Sanchez, Jessica N., and Brian R. Hudgens. "Interactions between density, home range behaviors, and contact rates in the Channel Island fox (Urocyon littoralis)." Ecology and Evolution 5.12 (2015): 2466-2477.; Dreamstime.com. "12,019 California Sunshine Photos - Free & Royalty-Free Stock Photos from Dreamstime." Dreamstime; Aaron, Martin. "The Fantastic Mr. Fox." BBC, 18 Nov. 2013; Cabrera, Kim. "Animal Tracks - Gray Fox (Urocyon Cinereoargenteus)." Beartracker's Animal Tracks Den, 2008; “Scenery” Bill Hoyer; Howard, Jake. "A Summer with No Surf Contests." San Clemente Times, 29 July 2020; “Sunset Clouds” Bill Hoyer; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San_Clemente_Island_Fox_(Urocyon_littoralis_clementae)_at_Santa_Barbara_Zoo_2016-01-27.jpg; Webb, Sam. "Cunning Fox Sneaks Up on Oblivious Photographer in the Canadian Wilds and then Tries to Steal Her Camera." Mail Online, 30 Dec. 2013, Cheema, Sukhbir. "Ever Heard a Fox Laugh? This Video Will Make Your Day." Mashable SEA, 3 July 2020; Howard, Jake. "A Summer with No Surf Contests." San Clemente Times, 29 July 2020; Knickerbocker, Brad. "How the Little Channel Islands Fox Came Back from Near-extinction." The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Mar. 2015, Rajs, Jake. "San Clemente Pier." Jake Rajs; Arnosky, Jim. "Watching Foxes." Goodreads | Meet Your Next Favorite Book, 1985; Wigglesworth, Alex. "San Clemente Beaches Will Reopen This Weekend, but Only for Residents." Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2020, "ZOOINSTITUTES." San Clemente Island fox / Urocyon littoralis clementae “Cactus” Bill Hoyer; “Orange Fox” Morgan Ball.; Tripadvisor.com. "Sculpted Cliffs Next to the Ocean - Picture of San Clemente State Beach, San Clemente.”; Tripadvisor.com. "Sculpted Cliffs Next to the Ocean - Picture of San Clemente State Beach, San Clemente."; Tripmasters.com. "Great Sand Dunes (Alamosa), CO Vacation Packages.”; Islapedia. "Portal:San Clemente Island." Welcome to Islapedia - WikiName. Accessed 27 Oct. 2020.

The following shadow puppetry performance was inspired by the real life “King of San Miguel,” Herb Lester. He left New York for the westernmost of the Channel Islands, eventually starting a family who struggled on the remote island.

Warning: this story references self harm and gun violence.

Rachael Ball: Storyboard, Concept, Director

Kaitie Ball: Creative Consultant

Alexa Kurdelak: Storyboard Artist

Caiden Moreno: Videographer

Jerry Cruz: Music Analysis

Sabrina T. Moreno: Music Analysis, Editor

In 1972, leader of the Brown Berets, David Sanchez, discovered that the Channel Islands were not mentioned in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Soon after he and 25 Brown Berets got on a boat to Catalina Island to claim the land for Mexico and bring attention to the lack of affordable housing on the island. The Brown Berets settled on a hillside they named Campo Tecolote for about a month before they were escorted off the island by the LA County Sheriffs. Though claiming Catalina for Mexico seems like a heroic act of resistance, it erases the Tongva people’s connection to the island as they were the ones to first call it home. Our piece follows Adelita, Brown Beret member, on her way to Catalina for the first time as she struggles with thoughts about identity, colonization, and erasure.

TJ Ramirez: Playwright, “Toypurina”

Sara Ruiz: Playwright, “Adelita”

Adrianna Ramirez: Costuming

TJ Ramirez: Editor

Isaac A. Ortiz: Audio Engineer

Image & Other Media Credits:

The Brown Berets salute at their camp on Catalina Island. (Maria Marquez Sanchez, La Raza photograph collection. Courtesy of UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center); The Brown Berets are escorted off the island by the LA Sheriff's Department. (Courtesy of the National Brown Beret's Website); Members of the Brown Berets rest in a campground on Catalina Island in 1972 (David Sanchez); Screenshot from David Sánchez, “Brown Berets History Part 2”; Screenshot from The Brown Berets return to Catalina Island; Photo by Maria Marquez Sanchez in “Narrated Photo Essay: Maria Marquez Sanchez”

In the Chumash culture the Island Fox is known as a dream helper, sacred, with a connection to the sun. Original writings tell the story of history and significance of this magnificent creature and take us on a journey through dreams and the unfortunate reality of the near threatened Island Fox.

Poetry by Alexa Kurdelak and TJ Ramirez

Alexa Kurdelak: Poet, Performer

TJ Ramirez: Poet, Performer

Sarah Rivera: Vision

Jerry Cruz: Music Analysis

Sabrina T. Moreno: Music Analysis

Simon Reyes: Editor

Sabrina T. Moreno: Editor

Sabrina T. Moreno: Resource Collection

Image & Other Media Credits: Fox Outline, Clipart PNG, Google.com; Nighttime Flyover Clouds, Author: Scanrail, https://depositphotos.com/portfolio-1000128.html?content=video; Ocean Horizon, Free Stock Videos, https://pixabay.com/videos/search/sunset

The Channel Islands Orchestra Suite culminates with a recapitulation of highlights from each performance and island movement from Ashley Hoyer's Channel Islands Orchestral Suite. The imagery is inspired by Elder Julie's description of when a departed Chumash person's soul leaves the earth and it looks like a blue-green comet streaking through the sky.

Alexa Kurdelak: Performer

TJ Ramirez: Performer

Sarah Rivera: Performer

Jerry Cruz: Music Analysis

Sabrina T. Moreno: Music Analysis

Isaac A. Ortiz: Image Designer

Sabrina T. Moreno: Editor

Simon Reyes: Editor

Image & Other Media Credits: "The Blue Comet" Isaac A. Ortiz