In researching 53 Yakshi, an exhaustive appropriation of Merce Cunningham’s use of the I Ching in his 1976 dance Torse, I came across this 1989 artist talk by Maryanne Amacher (who wrote the score for Merce’s dance) and was moved to find other talks and long-form interviews by artists —female and no longer living— for other artists —female and alive— to house and measure in their own bodies and voices.
Nemeton is a durational choreography which makes a thicket of words, positions, and breath. Nine bodies listen and voice words spoken by other bodies- Kathy Acker, Laura Aguilar, Maryanne Amacher, Trisha Brown, Octavia Butler, Katherine Dunham, Helen Frankenthaler, Ruth G. Waddy, Susan Hiller, Shigeko Kubota, Carolee Schneemann, Agnes Varda- feeling out what language can possibly make present, and what it shrouds.
Organized with Alana Reibstein. Performed by Stacy Dawson Stearns, Jessica Emmanuel, Cristina Fernandez, Maria Maea, Coral Lobera, Jasmine Orpilla, Alana Reibstein, Gabriella Rhodeen, and Laura Stinger at Human Resources LA, May 4 and 5, 2019.
