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The Dreamers, 2013 Video/sound installation Seven channels of color high-definition video on seven flat panel displays mounted vertically on wall in darkened room; four channels of stereo sound Screen size: 61 1/4 x 36 3/8 x 5 in. (155.5 x 92.5 x 12.7 cm) each Room dimensions: 11 ft 6 in. x 21 ft 4 in. x 21 ft 4 in. (3.5 x 6.5 x 6.5 m) Continuously running Performers: Gleb Kaminer, Rebekah Rife, Mark Ofugi, Madison Corn, Sharon Ferguson, Christian Vincent, Katherine Mckalip
THE DREAMERS
The Dreamers is a room-sized installation containing seven large flat panel screens that depict seven individuals submerged underwater at the bottom of a streambed. Their eyes are closed and they appear to be at peace. Water ripples across their bodies, subtly animating their movements. The sound of running water permeates the space as dreams filter through the room.
Tristan’s Ascension (The Sound of a Mountain Under a Waterfall), 2005 Video/sound installation Color high-definition video projection; four channels of sound with subwoofer (4.1) Projected image size: 19 ft x 10 ft 8 in. (5.8 x 3.25 m) 10:16 minutes Performer: John Hay
TRISTAN’S ASCENSION (THE SOUND OF A MOUNTAIN UNDER A WATERFALL)
Tristan’s Ascension describes the ascent of the soul in the space after death as it is awakened and drawn up in a backwards flowing waterfall. The body of a man is seen lying on a stone slab in an empty concrete room. Small drips of water become visible as they leave the ground and fall upward into space. What starts as a light rain soon becomes a roaring deluge, and the cascading water jostles the man’s limp body and soon brings him to life. His arms move of their own accord and his torso arches upward amidst the churning water.
Finally, his entire body rises off the slab and is drawn up with the rushing water, disappearing above. The torrent of water gradually subsides and the drips decrease until only the empty slab remains, glistening on the wet ground. The image sequence is projected onto a tall, vertically oriented screen mounted on the wall. A specially configured 4.1 surround sound system arrays the sound in the vertical dimension of the space.
Heaven and Earth, 1992 Video installation In a small alcove, a wood column extends from the floor and ceiling, with a gap in the center formed by two exposed monitors facing each other two inches apart, mounted to upper and lower columns respectively, a black-and-white video image on each monitor Room dimensions: 9 ft 6 in. x 16 ft x 18 ft (2.9 x 4.9 x 5.5 m) Continuously running
HEAVEN AND EARTH
In a small alcove, a wood column extends from the floor and ceiling, with a gap in the center formed by two exposed monitors facing each other two inches apart, mounted to upper and lower columns respectively, a black-and-white video image on each monitor.
A column-like structure is enclosed in a small alcove. It is made of wood and extends from floor to ceiling. There is a gap of several inches at eye level in the column, dividing the structure in two. At this gap, positioned facing each other and not touching, are the exposed tubes of two black and white video monitors. The upper monitor shows a close-up image of an old woman on the verge of death, and the lower monitor shows a close-up image of a new baby only days old. The images are silent. Since the surface of each monitor screen is glass, a reflected image of the screen opposite to it can be seen through the surface of each image, as life and death reflect and contain each other.