Art in Conversation: Acts of Matter
Updated: Jul 27, 2021
Greetings! I created this blog post to document the different ideas and collaborations that took place during my 6 week artist residency at Art Produce. My goal during my residency was to create a new work for my Art in Conversation series.
Art in Conversation is an immersive performance series where I collaborate with various artists to create an original interdisciplinary work. This series invites viewers to participate in part of the creative process. Art in Conversation is an opportunity to interact with viewers and ask them questions that invite them to respond to my work as it's being created, adapted and performed.
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Acts of Matter at Art Produce
Acts of Matter is inspired by the film PUMZI. I wanted to create a work in response to the film and start a conversation about sustainability in the arts. I asked each of my collaborators to view the film and we worked together to build a response and the installation you are viewing today is a reflection of that.
The installation Acts of Matter contains work of the following Artists:
Maria Rios-Mathioudakis - Cyanotype
BJ Robinson - Music Composition and Instruments
Alyssa Ajay Junious - Dance Film
Emmalene Nichols - Videographer
'As above, so is below' is the first work you'll see as you walk into the space. This work was created by Maria Rios-Mathioudakis. Cyanotype is a photographic printing process. This is a 13ft cyanotype and the composition was created with palm leaves and from my neighbors palm tree.
Below is some documentation of process that took place here at Art Produce! This was my first experience creating an installation and I learned so much from Maria and Matt!
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Next in the space you will see a collection of instruments BJ created. Inspired by the film PUMZI, he wanted to create sound from organic and recycled material. His sound scape is part of the dance film and you will hear it in the space before the film begins and during the last section of the film.
To learn more about his process you can experience a few interactive stations out in the garden.
Station 1: Strings
Station 2: Percussion
Station 3: Instrument Materials
Click the file below to learn more about BJ's inspiration for creating is original composition for Acts of Matter.
ActsofMatter_BJ
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Download KEY • 66.31MB
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Lastly you will see dance film Acts of Matter playing on a projection. This film runs about 10 minutes. In between each loop you will hear BJ's music composition titled 'Acts of Matter'.
All the movement in this film was generated and captured through improvisation. As a choreographer I am usually more specific with how I'd like my movement captured as well as the movement sequences. Below is a video of me improvising in the community room at Art Produce. I was testing out how much movement I can do in the jumpsuit. Watch until the end to see how that worked out lol.
The process of shooting this dance film I worked with mixed media artist Emmalene Nichols. Together we focused on the movement of the camera and the composition of the frame. This process helped me develop an eye for camera movement and also liberated me from the limitations of choreographed movement.
For this project I wanted to deliberately focus on the input of the creative process rather than chasing an output of what I'd like the piece to look like at the end. For me thats always been a part of my process as a performing artist. I wanted to free myself from expectation and be present with the experience to making art with people I cared dearly about. I wanted to create in community with other like-minded artists who also wanted to center joy and conversation, I am proud to say Acts of Matter is a reflection of that intention. It taught me to lean into my intuition and the lessons that come with collaboration.
View Acts of Matter on Vimeo OnDemand
To view more BTS of Acts of Matter visit continuum.sd IG page.
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Let's stay connected! Follow me on IG at continuum.sd or sign up for my email list on my website for performance and event updates. AlyssaRJunious.com
If you would like to support Continuum and future Art in Conversation Series, please consider donating.
If you'd like to see more of my dance films you can view them OnDemand on my Vimeo Page
