SI Reasoning
Albert E. Ritchey, Jr, known as SI Reasoning (born August 3, 1962) is a musician, dancer, performance artist, photographer, playwright and environmental activist based in Birmingham. He is a member of the board of the American Dance Guild and has been active in the Birmingham Improv Festival and is a founder of Choose Peace, a community activism website.
Reasoning emerged in Birmingham improvisational theater with his 2001 performance Ghost Warrior which uses photography and painting alongside music, dancers, and narration to explore themes relating to the September 11 terrorist attacks.
In 2002, Reasoning organized a month-long art event at the Birmingham Art Association called "Art for the Environment".
His controversial 2002 theatrical event, "The Anniston House of Horrors" portrayed the onslaught of chemical contamination in Anniston through interpretive dance, featuring characters such as "Cancer Fairies" and a dancing three-eyed "Fish of the Chocolocco". It received mixed reviews. Anniston city officials and representatives of Solutia, the successor company of Monsanto, panned the play while the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce distanced itself from the production. The Birmingham News, meanwhile, described the 2003 City Stages performance a "don't miss" show.
Reasoning also starred in an independent film, "Take a Deep Breath", an early version of which was screened at the 2003 Sidewalk Festival. He performs regularly with the Modern Gypsies and the Jupiterians.
His most recent composition, "neW Orleans" depicts the landfall and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
On April 15, 2006, in association with the Birmingham International Festival, he led a "World Tour of Birmingham" exploring international cultures in Birmingham by bicycle. Reasoning is an active cyclist and promoter of human-powered transport. He rides a "Lightfoot Roadrunner" touring tricycle outfitted with "Down Low Glow" safety lights.
References
- Clemence, Sara. (October 31, 2002) "City officials dismayed over 'horror' show." Anniston Star.
External links
- SI Reasoning bio at the American Dance Guild
- SI Reasoning's weblog at ChoosePeace.INFO