Momentum of the Muse: Part 1

It started as a hobby. I would see a mural and wanted to dance in front of it. I would see a sculpture and want to dance with it. I would see a dancer and would want to stand in the air that they spun. I would see a play and allow myself to be transformed. I wanted to do more than witness these art activations, I wanted to be activated by them.

"If Alice"

It started with an activation during the COVID Pandemic with my friend, Anastacia Renee' having her first large gallery show at the Frye Art museum, and a very low attendance due to the fact that all public building and exhibits were closed. I asked her if I could come and dance in the space with a visceral response to her work. I purchased a replica of the garment she wore in the art. I hired a videographer, Kamyar Moshein, and I asked him to follow me through the experience.

It was more than an activation, it was a possesssion. a possession inspired by my obsession to understand this character "Alice" that I had seen , heard, read, and empathized with over the years of her development. I found myself swiftly moving my feet to write the prose on the wall with my soles on the floor. I told Kamyar, I can do one walk through, and after that, you have to catch whatever happens, because I am leaving the rest of this creation up to "Alice." Alice showed me that a laundry line of bloody clothes with no context can bring me to my knees. Alice screamed at me to listen when her voice rand through the speakers and told me she was "fine." Alice placed me on my stomache and demanded I pray to the Lorde Audre. Alice gave me the momementum to "muse."

There have been 4 more activations since this first one. I thought that it would be a solid series of 4 performance responses, but these responses have turned into reviews and reflections that can not be limited, because black art has shown me it is limitless. I am grateful for the assignment.