Last summer I took part in one of the University of Oregon's best creative summer workshops; a one week collaborative installation class. I met a group of people whom I greatly enjoyed working with, many of whom I would go on to work with in the Portland DArts BFA program; RUDE BROOD! In one week our group of strangers put our heads together and conceptualized, organized, coordinated and executed a site specific art installation in the Laverne Krause Gallery at the University of Oregon; our show title was "dual" which was more than fitting. "dual" was up for only one day. The reception was the only showing and then down it came the next day. It was a sort of ephemeral experience in the literal sense, but in my opinion had long lasting effects for every one of us and undoubtably altered my relationship with my creative making process.
Here is the actual show invite poster with a good write-up. (click for larger image)
Here is the sound art I created for the dancer exhibit space. The dancers and I collaborated to create a soundscape that embodied the essence of not only the collaborative exhibit of "dual" as a whole, but also the creative process and our actual process of creation in it's various parts. The dancer's exhibit was about time, movement and manipulation. I had a great time and this was my first time working with dancers. I hope to do it again one day.
It really was an amazing experience, a mind altering process and just all around good fun. It's amazing what can be birthed in the period of a few days when the pressure and creativity is on full force.
So, just a quick post here because I suck at documentation with my work and I want to make note of what I'm doing for Craig Hickman's Gizmos workshop this summer and also want to get some creative and thoughtful juices flowing .
I have two elements in my interactive work that come up a lot. Well, there are more than two elements in reality, but these are perhaps my two favorites... for now. Anyway! Two elements in my interactive work: music and motion. I love making a physical connection between the creation and experience of sound, in particular music. Dance is a powerful expressive tool (that I only use in the privacy of my own home or at clubs under the influence of much obligatory drink) and music has shown to evoke strong physical and emotional reaction on small and large scales, but I feel like a simpler, more direct form of physical interaction with sound and creation of sound could be extremely impressive and perhaps even elevate and merge the two for the average person. I've been musing over such a thing for years and keep finding little bits and pieces here and there, like kindling in my mind, threatening to spark an idea I can actually flesh out and bring together as a polished, effect whole. For now, I'll settle with baby steps toward a developing idea that's still out of my reach: How can I merge movement and sound to create a simple, elegant and potent environment for the average person? How can I take body and rhythm and combine them in a new way that might get others to revaluate their understanding of sound art and artistic expression through movement? This sounds all fancy, but maybe it's just madness and nonsense.
