Playthink 2013: Invocation of the Androgynous Muse

This was a pivotal work. It’s idea was beautifully simple…

Set up a stage.

Sit in the middle of the stage like a statue, shape-shifted into an androgynous goblin.

instruments are placed around the stage.

The Creature comes to life and paints if music is played.

When the music stops, the creature returns to middle, attaining stillness.

This lasted for 12 hours.

The melding of music with visual art is an age-old romance, but this was a rare occasion with diverse musicians present; the work was created in real-time; direct interface. The sound varied…the first person to play the animating music was a young boy, perhaps 5 or 6. And it went from there…

….ambient drone from metal drums, revolution songs, rock-a-billy blues….even a full brass marching band with accompanying hoop dancers.  One of my particularly fond collabs was with the group Everyone Lives Everyone Wins , part of central Kentucky’s Concentric Drone Cult. Was able to entirely invest in the creature.

 

 

The physical demand was a challenge….

I eagerly accepted. Though my body disagreed quite a bit the next day. Totally worth it! This performance falls in line with an idea I’ve been flirting with of Endurance Art performances. An artist taking on a physical extremes in addition to producing a raw creativity. This is a budding idea that will present itself again in my work…hope you catch it.

Special thanks to Homegrown Hideaways for hosting and Playthink Festival for organizing.

For booking at your event, contact at info@chemicalmarriage.com