Loose Leaf Notes

The following was published in The Floyd Press on April 1, 2010.

“You need only three things for humanitarian clowning,” Ash Devine told a group of Young Actors Co-op (YAC) students, “a twinkle in your eye, a smile on your face, and a willingness to greet.”

Devine, a musician from Asheville, North Carolina, who grew up in the Blacksburg countryside was recently in town to teach a workshop on clowning, which she learned from Patch Adams, the medical doctor, social activist, and clown who was played by Robin Williams in the 1998 movie “Patch Adams.”

The 24 year-old Devine, who graduated from UNC Asheville with a degree in drama and community arts, first became familiar with Floyd when she was in high school and developed a following as a regular performer when the Pine Tavern hosted a weekly open mic.

In 2008, Devine took a life-changing spring break to Haiti with Adams and others for humanitarian clowning.    Clowning with Adams in orphanages and hospitals, Devine learned firsthand that humor is a universal language that transcends economic, cultural, and language barriers.  She also learned that red clown noses can be “an invitation to go anywhere.”

In preparation for clowning at Floyd’s Skyline Nursing Home, Devine spoke to the YAC students about the importance of intention over outcome.  She advised them to be aware of the physical and cognitive limitations of others, stating, “We are here to love people and have fun.”

At the workshop, held in the Sun Hall, students were paired up in teams to practice exercises that explored improvisation, gesturing, and other and non-verbal expression.   They learned that in the world of clowning everyday objects are used in new ways.   A banana becomes a phone.  A bunch of grapes might be used as a showerhead for mock bathing and later be worn as a hat.  Instrument playing and singing were also part of Devine’s clown instruction.

The morning after the workshop, the YAC group put their lessons in action.  Dressed in fluorescent colored clothing accessorized with feathers and balloons, they spent two hours clowning around at the nursing home.   After visiting with residents in their rooms in the Alzheimer‘s Ward, they engaged others in lively game playing and sing-along songs in the community room.

YAC director Rose McCutchan said the students were impressed with the power of humor to bring joy and happiness.   Several of them commented on how different it was to use humor in challenging situations, she noted.  About the YAC outreach, McCutchan said, “We’re here for the community.  The community gives us so much that we want to give back.   We’re lucky to have Ash to lead us.”

Devine hopes to be back in Floyd for some follow-up clowning sessions this summer.   In the meantime, her schedule is full.  Readying to head off to play a gig at Gillies in Blacksburg, she spoke of her plans to take humanitarian clowning on the road.  She is currently working to raise money and to gather artists and resources for an extended Educational Clowning Tour in 2011 that will feature music, theater, dance, environmental awareness, and educational programs for youth.  “It’s my dream to go on tour every year,” said the ukulele playing singer-songwriter clown.    ~ Colleen Redman

Post Notes: Watch a video clip of the workshop HERE and HERE. Read about YAC’s last play HERE. For more information about Ash’s music and humanitarian clowning visit her Myspace page at myspace.com/ashdevinemusic.   Go to patchadams.org to learn more about humanitarian clown trips.