<div dir="ltr">(sorry for any x-post)<br><div><div><div><div><div><br><br>Rensselaer
Arts PHD Candidate, Heidi Boisvert, premieres performance at EMPAC that
cultivates an expressive virtual world populated by corporeal sounds
and generative imagery from dancers' bodies.<br><br>TROY, NY - April
8th, 2013 - The Arts Department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
announces the premiere of a mechanomyogram (MMG) multi-media
production, "[radical] signs of life," on May 3rd at 4:00 pm and May 4th
at 7:30 pm in Studio 2 at the Experimental Media and Performing Arts
Center (EMPAC). Through responsive dance, "[radical] signs of life"
externalizes the mind’s non-hierarchical distribution of thought. Music
is generated from the dancers‘ muscles and blood flow via biophysical
sensors that capture sound waves from the performers’ bodies. This data
triggers complex neural patterns to be projected onto multiple screens
as 3D imagery. As the audience interacts with the images produced, they
enter into a dialogue with the dancers. <br><br></div><div>A backstage pictures gallery can be seen at the bottom website link.<br></div><div><br>The performance makes
use of biophysical technology to integrate networked bodies and
interactive dance. It was conceived and directed by new media artist and
game designer Heidi Boisvert in collaboration with an international
team of artists, including Pauline Jennings (Choreographer), Doug Van
Nort (Sound Designer), Allen Hahn (Set & Lighting Designer), Raven
Kwok (Visual Designer), Amy Nielson (Costume Designer) and Marco
Donnarumma (Sensor Designer & Developer). The project features the
Xth Sense (XS), a biophysical sensor that detects and captures
mechanical sound waves produced at the onset of musculature contraction.
For "[radical] signs of life," a wireless network and stand alone
armband was custom developed for the XS by engineer MJ Caselden, and
industrial designer, Krystal Pernaud. <br><br>The choreography for the
hour-long performance will be composed in real-time by five dancers from
a shared movement database in accordance with pre-determined rules.
Outfitted with two wireless sensors each, the dancers--Jennifer Mellor,
Ellen Smith Ahern, Hanna Satterlee, Avi Waring and Willow Wonder--will
create patterns that dissolve from autonomous polyrhythms to
intersecting lines as they slip through generative video and light.<br><br>"[radical]
signs of life" was produced, in part, at Harvestworks with funds from
the Rockefeller Foundation’s New York City Cultural Innovation Fund and
the National Endowment for the Arts. The work was made possible through
generous support from the Rensselaer Arts Department along with iEAR
Studios, and EMPAC staff. Rehearsal space was granted by an Artistic
Residency at the Contemporary Dance and Fitness Center in Montpelier,
Vermont.<br><br>Limited Seating. Reservations recommended. To make reservations, please contact the EMPAC Box Office at 518.276.3921.<br><br>Media Contact:<br>Heidi Boisvert, <a href="mailto:heidijboisvert@gmail.com">heidijboisvert@gmail.com</a>, +.1.917.536.2792<br>
Full press package available upon request.<br>Or visit our project site: <a href="http://www.radicalsignsoflife.tumblr.com">www.radicalsignsoflife.tumblr.com</a>.<br><br><br></div></div></div></div><div>--<br>Marco Donnarumma<br>
New Media + Sonic Arts Practitioner, Performer, Teacher, Director.<br>Embodied Audio-Visual Interaction Research Team.<br>Department of Computing, Goldsmiths University of London<br>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br>Portfolio: <a href="http://marcodonnarumma.com" target="_blank">http://marcodonnarumma.com</a><br>
Research: <a href="http://res.marcodonnarumma.com" target="_blank">http://res.marcodonnarumma.com</a><br>Director: <a href="http://www.liveperformersmeeting.net" target="_blank">http://www.liveperformersmeeting.net</a></div>
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