DISPATCH - FEB 21, 2014
WATER MILL, NY-
Watermill Center is a busy place this week with a tour and durational performance unfolding on Saturday and a Brooklyn-based art collective presenting its latest piece on Wednesday in conjunction with a lecture on an avant-garde theater development program. Both performances are multi-media and include music as a component.
Temporary Distortion presents their new durational performance MY VOICE HAS AN ECHO IN IT on Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m. The piece can be experienced any time over the six hours and people can come and go as they please. A reception will be held from 2 to 8 p.m.
This is the first time the group will perform all six hours of the piece. MY VOICE HAS AN ECHO IN IT will be toured in France later this year. The piece includes live music, text, and video with live performance.
MY VOICE HAS AN ECHO IN IT unfolds in a fully enclosed 24' x 6' hallway. The performers are confined within a freestanding, sound proof box. The audience views the piece through two-way mirrors lining the 24' long walls. While the audience can see inside the box, the performer sees only his reflection, stretching off infinitely in both directions.
The audience listens to the performance through headphones stationed along the windows. Twenty-four sets of headphones are available at a time with twelve located on each side. All of the instruments (including the drums) are electric and plugged directly into a mixing board.
The audio signal is sent straight to the headphones. No additional amplification is used. Speakers outside the box play prerecorded ambient music for those waiting. Digital renderings and images of the hallway will be on display during the event at Watermill center.
Temporary Distortion’s signature style includes meditative performances staged in claustrophobic, boxlike structures. They present a unique restrained style of acting with little physical movement. They achieve the creation of sensual and dreamlike double worlds through the juxtaposition of recorded video and live performance.
In each piece, an immersive, boxlike structure appears as a framing device. While multiple performers often inhabit a sculpture together, they never make eye contact, never touch, and barely move. They behave instead as parts of a singular, time-based assemblage.
Temporary Distortion is based in New York City. Their work has been presented at The Baryshnikov Arts Center, The Chocolate Factory, The Ontological-Hysteric Theater and Performance Space 122.
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Temporary Distortion performs. Courtesy Watermill Center.
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On Wednesday, a different kind of performance piece and program will be presented. LEIMAY will present their current performance of The Electric Party Songs developed through the Open Program, of the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotwski and Thomas Richards. The work of the Open Program aims to rediscover the nucleus of theater, which is considered to be the moment of meaningful contact between human beings.
The evening takes place on Wednesday (Feb. 26) at 6 p.m. and includes the performance of "Electric Party Songs" which demonstrates the work of the Open Program. The lecture will be led by Mario Biagini, who is the director of Open Program and the associate director of the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards. Biagini has been with Workcenter for over 20 years.
Open Program was founded in 2007 and works with a team of 11 actors from around the world who work with dramaturges and scholars. Open Program facilitates the presentation to the public the inner aspects of the Workcenter's research. Currently, Open Program is focusing on rediscovering the living aspect of the poetic word as tool for contact and action.
At Watermill Center, LEIMAY presents "Electric Party Songs" which springs from an investigation of Allen Ginsberg's poetry. The poems are woven through traditional songs and shouts from southern United States and original music pieces.
Electric Party Songs was recently presented by LEIMAY at The Gershwin Hotel in NYC under the auspices of the Workcenter. It will be presented again in NYC at Sam Brocato Salon on March 2 and at Queens Tavern on March 4. Suggested donation is $20 or $25 to these performances.
LEIMAY is a Brooklyn-based arts collective and producing organization.
Open Program presents other performance pieces or concerts that include "Electric Party", "I Am America" and "Not History's Bones - A Poetry Concert". Each manifests the Open Program's research of being able to transform the living aspect of the poetic word, originating from poetry, into music and actions. This is a continuation of ongoing research taking place at Workcenter but pushed in a new direction through Open Program.
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LEIMAY performs. Courtesy Watermill Center.
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BASIC FACTS: MY VOICE HAS AN ECHO IN IT by Temporary Distortion will be performed on Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m. A reception takes place throughout the day so people can come and go throughout the piece. Free. Reservations are required and can be made by clicking here.
Tour of the Watermill Center takes place on Saturday at 2 p.m. Includes the Watermill Center building and grounds.
Lecture and Demonstration on the work of Open Program takes place on Wednesday (Feb. 26) at 6 p.m. The lecture is led by Mario Biagini. The performance of "Electric Party Songs" is by LEIMAY. Free. Reservations are required and can be made by clicking here.
The Watermill Center is located at 39 Water Mill Towd Road, Water Mill, NY 11976. www.watermillcenter.org.
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