Testimonial

“My residency at the Boulder Swoon Art House was simply WONDERFUL! It was in-state and ideal for a much needed break during the Covid 19 Pandemic. I came with a project in mind, but I needed technical knowledge to make it happen.  The exciting thing about the Swoon Residency was that it afforded me the opportunity to work with someone who could provide technical expertise.

The Swoon Residency provided me with amazing resources-technical assistance, a stipend for materials, living expenses, payment to an assistant-who in this case was the capable and amiable Jiffer Harriman, a place to work and lodging in the magnificent Swoon Art House

I have lamented lately over the uninspired architecture we see presently.  What a kick to actually live and work in this architectural marvel.  It was the biggest place I’ve ever lived and worked in simultaneously.  I cannot say enough about this structure.  It was like living inside a monumental  sculpture. It was a true 21st century place with a bit of Star Trek features to boot.

Everyone was so helpful, kind and responsive to my every need and request. It was a pleasure meeting Rebecca, her husband and son.  They were so very welcoming.  Rebecca is a fine artist and a person of vision. It would take an artist to know the perfect set up for an ideal work environment.  Her presences was positively felt with her art work gracing the walls of the Swoon. What a charge and surprise to find one of her substantial installations in the basement.

My performance/installation was called Wigs-B Suite.  Because I am a survivor and now have to wear wigs I wanted to do something with the collection I have amassed.  I wanted to animate them and bring a little light to the darkness.

I used robot cars, like large remote control cars to achieve this.  With Jiffer Harrison’s assistance we/he programmed a car to follow a track made of black tape and another set of cars were programmed to do their own thing and move improvisationally. After all, doing things improvisationally is how I roll.  Because I am a romantic at heart I chose songs by Diana Ross and the Supremes about finding love and new music expressing it in abstraction to make up the musical score. It turned out to be a curious piece of choreography.

What Fun! I so hope it brought a smile to those who viewed it.  It was a germ of an idea that I would like to develop. This was only a two week residency. It took a significant amount of time to figure out the programming. With this introduction though, I’m now willing to incorporate technology in future work that I might do.”