PHANTASMAGORIA Performance

Since my original idea for the Bodies and Interactions project didn't exactly work out, I've decided to revise it a bit. While I will still be using projections, I've expanded on my original plans. I plan to do a phantasmagoria show this Sunday, Halloween, in the same fashion as a nineteenth century show.

But what is phantasmagoria?

Phantasmagoria: (OED)

1. A name invented for an exhibition of optical illusions produced chiefly by means of the magic lantern, first exhibited in London in 1802. (Sometimes erroneously applied to the mechanism used.)

b. Extended to similar optical exhibitions, ancient and modern.

2. A shifting series or succession of phantasms or imaginary figures, as seen in a dream or fevered condition, as called up by the imagination, or as created by literary description

3. transf. A shifting and changing external scene consisting of many elements.

This week I will be experimenting with what type of lantern I want to use. The original, "magic" lantern that was used consisted of a candle and a concave mirror that was used to project frightening images such as skeletons, demons, and ghosts onto walls, smoke, or semi-transparent screens, frequently using rear projection. The projector was mobile, allowing the projected image to move and change size on the screen, and multiple projecting devices allowed for quick switching of different images. Ideally, I will try to recreate this type of lantern, possibly multiple lanterns, depending on how much light I need. The event will take place at dusk, around 7:30 or 8:00 on the 31st.
I haven't decided on a place yet but I will be projecting my images on a large white sheet, probably hung between two trees. I will create several of my own projections and also invite the audience (in advance) to bring their own. Once again, my main challenge will be logistics- getting enough lanterns, figuring out how much light I will need, etc. I'd like to do it on campus in a well-traveled spot but if this doesn't work out, I plan to use this grassy area in my apartment complex and invite everyone who lives in Oak Hill. I really want this to be an event- a performance piece that really gets into the spirit of the holiday and the tradition.

Elsewhere Artists Collaborative

Never have I seen so many beautiful colors and textures in such an unassuming place. On the outside, Elsewhere Artists Collaborative is a small, brick building, nestled between various merchants on Elm street, downtown Greensboro. Inside, the former furniture and army surplus business has been transformed into a living museum. I was intrigued and I'll admit a bit skeptical about the idea of a living museum before I visited the collaborative. I had no idea what to expect until I walked into the building and saw shelves and shelves of old, color-coded children's toys. I'm not usually a big fan of "stuff"...I like things to be organized, aesthetically pleasing while being minimalist. There was something about Elsewhere though that was not overwhelming. While there was an incredible amount of "stuff"- old radios, board games, baby dolls, bolts of fabric, musical instruments, old shoes, etc.- I was surprisingly not overwhelmed. Everything seemed to have a very specific and pleasing place. What I found myself connecting with the most was the arrangement of colors and the visual aesthetic that created. I'm very drawn to bright color and I appreciated the attention that was given to it, especially in the bookshelves pictured above. It was this rearrangement of everyday objects that made the place into more than a collection of stuff.

Bodies and Interactions Proposal

(above: very simple example of projection)

Process - What do you plan to do? (i.e. including but not limited to: ephemeral installation in nature or urban environment, drawing within nature or urban environment, performance, etc)

Driving through Burlington last weekend, I realized (yet again) how much impact humans have on natural spaces and how much that natural landscape has changed. Creation (as opposed to destruction) generally has a positive connotation. But looking around strip malls and abandoned parking lots, I realize that the human creation of these things has left a destructive mark on the space. The building up of apartments, drug stores, mattress outlets, and fast food restaurants has torn down the natural environment and transformed it into a bleak, unforgiving, ugly expanse of concrete and shopping carts.

What I'm looking to do with this project is temporarily transform these spots from an eyesore to the natural scene they once were. I'm interested in light projections and using this basic technology to reflect images onto the walls of these empty buildings, abandoned cars, strip malls, etc. (somewhat like the silhouette projections of Kara Walker). Ideally, I will take several pictures of the surrounding area and either using cut paper or natural found objects (leaves, twigs, etc.), create a silhouette that can be projected on a larger scale.

The site - Where do you plan to do it? (include all relevant information about the site itself, describe it, include images if necessary):

I'm hoping to be able to project my cutouts onto surfaces in several different locations- at least 3- along the road that leads from Elon to the train station and around that general area. Getting permission may be an issue but keeping with the guidelines, I will leave nothing behind after removing the projection.

Time - When do you plan to carry out this project? How long might you take to create it? (Is it dependent upon a certain day of the week, a particular time of day?)

The actual image will be pretty simple so the creation of that shouldn't be the time consuming portion of this project. What will take the longest is scouting out places and planning a time to get to all of them. I will have to do it at nighttime in order for the light to show up on the surface. Since my supplies will probably be limited light-wise, I will probably only be able to do one at once and move from spot to spot.