Libration
Libration. noun. [ astronomy ] :
an apparent or real oscillation of the moon, by which parts near the edge of the disc that are often not visible from the Earth sometimes come into view :
from libra (a balance), denoting an oscillating motion, or equilibrium.
This work thinks through the notion of barriers (physical & psychological) as pliable. It is a meditation on conjuring methods for maneuvering between chasms (geographical, social, or otherwise). It was informed by my experience of living and working in Detroit, Michigan during an artist residency at Red Bull Arts Detroit and my interactions and exchanges with the dynamic artists, writers, thinkers, makers, and other workers in that city, as well as the landscape of the city itself.
It reflects my ongoing engagement with the notion of entanglement as a productive site, here explored through allusions to webs, inspired by the ways through which spiders perceive their environment through sound.
A note on process: I created the sculptural elements by hand-sewing strips of elastic. I created the audio from my own vocalizations, analog instrumentation, and digital instrumentation using Ableton Live, with a nod to local sonic histories. I filmed the video in Detroit, MI & Alfred, NY, edited it, & executed the performative sequences.
On view in the Resident Artist Exhibition alongside the work of Tiff Massey and Patrick Quarm, 12 April - 2 June, 2019 at Red Bull Arts Detroit, Detroit, MI.
All photographs are by the artist unless otherwise noted.