"Artists at the Edge: Tonya Kay (part 2)

-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music 

Monday, 10 March 2008 23:54            

Last month we began our discussion with Tonya Kay, dancer, actress, model, stunt-woman, environmental activist, and more. This month we conclude or discussion with 10 more questions. Check it out (and see part one HERE and visit Tonya on-line)!

11) So, you converted your 2001 Jetta into a waste-veggie oil consuming machine. The question everyone has is: How hard is it to get a fill-up?

Whether running gasoline, diesel, biodiesel or waste vegetable oil (like myself) the most important aspect of purchasing an automobile is to get one with extraordinary fuel economy. Now, you can purchase a hybrid vehicle that touts 50 mpg, but personally, I don't see that as "advanced technology" and is definitely not worth the investment. After all, in the nineties I was driving a Ford Festiva that got 50 mpg and it only cost $8K off the lot! Today I drive a 2001 VW TDI Jetta and it, too, gets 50 mpg. And none of those miles are on petroleum products - now that's a real clean air vehicle!

"Artists at the Edge: Tonya Kay (part 1)

-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Friday, 08 February 2008 06:47

It's probably fair to say that Tonya Kay is currently best known for her appearance as "Creature" on the TV show "Who Wants to be a Super Hero" (Sci-Fi Network) or NBC's "America's Got Talent". Or perhaps it's due to 3 years with STOMP or touring as a dancer with Panic at the Disco. Or maybe it's the recent appearance in the Trace Adkins music video for his song "I Got My Game On" or in the Progressive Auto Insurance TV commercials as a gremlin.

Or perhaps you've not heard of Tonya at all, but suddenly realize that you've seen her everywhere.

Tonya Kay is a fascinating woman. Dancer, musician, stunt-woman, actress, writer, director, producer, environmental activist...the list goes on. To sum it up, she is a one-woman cyclone of creativity, always at the brink and always in motion, boldly dancing at the chaotic but cutting edge of art.

It begins years ago when this 4 year old little girl from southern Michigan started taking tap dance. She spent a few years doing local musical theater and then, at the ripe old age of 15, snagged her first professional gig in Detroit, performing in "The Music Man" (and still managed to be valedictorian of her class). She hasn't stopped moving since. In addition to the above-listed credits, Tonya toured with country music legend Kenny Rogers, danced with the Broadway production of the Rugrats, wrote & directed Xtreme Rhythm Theatre to rave reviews, Mark Goodman's Tap Company (LA), played "NitroGrl" in the CBS show "NUMB3RS", a stint with Deca Dance Hip-Hop Theatre (NYC), the favorite "target" of knife-thrower Jack Dagger, internet-TV host, popped up in a Rob Zombie video, has been seen across the country cracking whips, flag dancing, & stilt-walking, produced an instructional video "How to Spin Poi with Tonya Kay", and much, much more.

A vegan since her teens and now well-known in raw foodist circles, Ms. Kay is a practicing pagan (& Chaote) and environmental activist who drives a modified car (2001 Jetta) that runs on waste vegetable oil. A prolific writer, Tonya has written almost as many articles/essays as she has been the subject of, on topics ranging from raw food to spirituality to environmental concerns to dance to health to teenage obesity to marketing.

She carved out a bit of time to chat. Below is part one of our 2-part interview. Afterwards, be sure to check out her official home on the web: www.TonyaKay.Com !

"Artists at the Edge: Natasha Vita-More (2)"

- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Thursday, 07 September 2006 07:26  

 

 
Last month we took a look at part one of the Natasha Vita-More interview. Now, we'll conclude with part 2. Enjoy!

11) You've had a keen interest in the nexus of science, art, & culture for quite some time. Can you say a few words about the function of your organization & web-site Transhumanist Arts & Culture?

"Artists at the Edge: Natasha Vita-More"

-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
first published at Tinfoil Music
Friday, 11 August 2006 08:30

For those who already know of Natasha Vita-More, no introduction is needed. For those unfamiliar with her, suffice it to say she is a HUGE thinker not just in the world of technology, but in the world of ideas. Her scope goes far beyond one or two focus groups and covers art, technology, fashion, science, politics, sex, religion...from primitive past to brilliant & kaleidoscopic future.

Natasha sculpts her body and her mind with old-fashioned work and new-fangled technologies, and gazes into the future with dazzling clarity. She is award-winning artist, actress, author, speaker, television show host. She holds a BFA from University of Memphis, MS from University of Houston (Future Studies), and is a Ph.D. candidate at University of Plymouth. She holds certificates from the AMFA as nutritionist & personal trainer, from Blackstone School of Law in paralegal studies, HTML writers Guild in animation. She was president of the Extopy Institute from 2000-2006 (ExI officially "closed it's doors" earlier this year), is founder & director of Transhumanist Arts & Culture, honorary vice-chair of the WTA, & sits on the council of advisors for the Alcor Foundation. She has delivered speeches to hundreds of thousands at various conferences around the world, been interviewed by newspapers like the New York Times & Village Voice and magazines as diverse as Wired, US News & World Report, and Harper's Bazaar. She has appeared in television & film for over 20 years and her artwork has been exhibited from coast to coast in the US as well as Europe and Japan, and her bio is featured from the Who's Who to Kurzweil AI.


In short, she is a brilliant artist and futurist. In the expanding world of transhumanism, extropianism, and art, she is a legend. She has been married to the equally brilliant strtegic futurist Dr. Max More since 1996, and though she was born mid-way through the last century, she looks like an Olympic athlete half her age.


I had the chance to speak to Natasha recently (note: this interview took place in the spring of 2006), so here is the first of a 2-part series. Hang on - it's a wild ride.....