The ProgramThe Program
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Entering the SpaceThe entrance into Studio III of Sullivant Hall takes one through a long gallery which was once part of an art museum. This manner of entry sets an atmosphere of mystery and fantasy as it is illuminated with twenty-three candles and resonates the sounds of medieval chants. Also on display in this castle-like space are a series of graphic reproductions of doors from Clews' castle. The live doves featured in the performance video footage, Mirth, Myth, Mystery, Fairy, and Sprite, are also on display..
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Opening CreditsAs the performance begins, opening credits are projected on a small screen in letterbox dimensions. The subject matter is intended to further introduce and define location through a virtual tour through the architecture of the Chateau de La Napoule. A final scene in these credits portrays flight through a window and out across the ocean foreshadowing the free spirited nature which Henry now experiences. At the end of this introduction the video screen is raised to expose Glenn in the role of Clews. This might be seen in the tradition of Clews, as he enjoyed making a grand entrance into his social gatherings. |
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ChevalierThe second solo of the evening further defines the character of Clews through the use of choreographed interactions with previously video taped footage of Glenn at the Chateau de La Napoule. The medieval lifestyle that Clews created in the 1920's and 1930's fuels the inspiration for Chevalier. |
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Bon VivantThe section which follows represents the lifestyle of southern France during the 1920's and 1930's. The Riviera Society is represented in the form of animations of silhouetted costume designs from the period. The visual climax of this section fills the room with colorful figures engaged in social dance as the movement vocabulary plays on social greetings and aristocratic attitudes. |
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SlicelightThis section makes use of a large moon-shaped prop and a suspended rope. Counterbalance and tension are used to explore the inner thoughts of the artist. Various animations are projected onto the large prop making use of it as a projection screen as it moves throughout the space.A sense of isolation may be detected as experienced in the long hours Clews dedicated to working inside his studio. Ocean footage taken from Clews' childhood home, Newport, RI, created a surreal background for this section and offered the opportunity to link two time periods in Clews' life. Inner thought and memory became the underlying theme of Slicelight. |
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PainterA lighter and more comical solo touches on the cleverness and light-hearted nature of Clews during his early year as a painter. An oversized paintbrush and artist's palette are used to interact with a virtual palette and virtual paintings created with video projections throughout this section. |
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CastelanCastelan is a look behind many of the doors of the Chateau. This abstract tour inculdes a jouney into the studio of Clews, the Chateau gardens, and other mysterious spaces. Projections are seen on the studio floor bringing to view another aspect of the dimensional canvas. |
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SculptorAfter a quick costume change during Castelan, Glenn reenters the space and dances a lyrical solo which responds to an animated, projection of the "God of Humormystics" and "The Thinker". This section resolves in immortality as life is drained from the movement in the manner in which life was drained from "The Thinker" in his quest for enlightenment. |
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ImmortalA horizontal procession carries Glenn across the space as his image is projected along the back wall. The virtual image contains a dove which flutters it's wings along the journey. As the figures progress across the space significant moments in the life of Clews are revealed through cross-dissolving video images. Once the destination across the room has been reached an illusion of ascension is created as the entire room seems to rise. During this spiritual transformation, which represents the journey of Clews' spirit out of the tomb and into the sealed room above, an elaborate burial robe rises from the white, feather-filled floor. Glenn makes the metaphorical transformation into a dove-like spirit to complete the following sections which suggest a peaceful afterlife. |
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SpriteAs Glenn arrives inside the sealed room above the tomb he begins to explore a new form of existence. A sense of freedom and happiness is experienced as the space is magically transformed as fifty pounds of feathers gradually float down from above. Multiple images of Glenn are projected during this section suggesting a group dance, or flock of doves, with all roles performed by Glenn himself. The climax of the evening occurs near the end of this section as reflections of the space are projected on the walls creating an infinity space containing footage of Glenn dancing in the flowing cape, flying through the air on the rope used in an earlier section. |
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Elan VitalThe final section acts as a farewell, or reverence. As Glenn backs away down a long, diagonal, pathway images of the screen rising which originally exposed the dancing figure are projected. Each rising screen reveals glimpses of the evening's solos. This recapitulation of the major moments of the evening concludes as Glenn runs behind a side screen and two silhouetted images are seen progressing from opposite corners of the space. These two silhouetted spirits make their way down the long corridor of archways and are united within a virtual space. At this moment an infinite number of animated doves fly from the focal point of spiritual unity and fill the room once again with motion. The lights fade. |
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