‘O Great Mullein!’ is an attempt to see the world from the point of view of a Great Mullein plant (Verbascum thapsus) by means of an interdisciplinary performance involving spoken word, three dancers, and six musicians. The activity and energy levels of the dance and music follow the two year life cycle of Mullein – unfurling in the first spring, resting in the winters, sending up a ten foot flowering stalk in the second spring, and finally standing proud for a full year after death. The project includes grounding from both Western science and Indigenous science, especially traditional Anishinaabe plant knowledge.
To Dave, my Pet Mycelium
‘To Dave, my Pet Mycelium‘ is a collaborative performance piece featuring human people and Dave, a friendly oyster mushroom mycelium. Utilizing Drums and electronics, vocals, and live projected video feed of a mycelium, Dave and I exchange stories of fond memories, moments of joy, and lessons about existing in right relationship with all people, both above and below ground.
Inspired by the 1960 documentary by Jean Painleve of the same name, “How Some Jellyfish are Born” is an exploration of symmetrical lifetimes and existential joy through the medium of dancing deep sea critters.
The piece utilizes computer programming to semi-randomly generate the pitch, rhythm, and timbre of the three main synthesizers, which are linked via OSC signal to the movement of the three jellyfish on the screen. The jellyfish are created by drawing rectangles and rotating that area of the screen with each new frame, resulting in a radial-esque visual effect. The performer guides the behaviors of the jellyfish live using a MIDI controller and keyboard.