School of Creative Practice - studio 121 -  March 2023

FlowRate: ritual performance

 

The concept of ‘solastalgia’ encompasses the enormous emotions we feel in response to climate change and the insecurity that arises as our environment changes.

 

'FlowRate' became an offering to our community in the form of an improvised ritual performance pouring liquid clay with the intention of transforming fear into empowerment, and paralysis into action.

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The performance had three acts: 

Primordial Time

Geological Time

Now

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Clay was suspended in buckets from the ceiling above the 12'x8' canvas. Performers sounded and danced, eventually pulling on hemp ropes to pour the clay from above. The resulting Flow Painting was dried, preserved with copal resin, and framed. Bob Marsh played his self-made instrument, the chair, while the other performers moved and sounded in response to each other in the moment.

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Concept, direction, and performance: Helen Eberhardie Dunn

Performers: Bob Marsh, Matte Refic, Julie Kim

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Materials:
Sound, projections, local Pueblo clay, porcelain and earth oxides, hemp rope, acacia gum, and clove oil on muslin and canvas.