Fragment 3

Description: Interactive live dance performance by Ashley Ferro-Murray.

Motivation:

I am composing “Fragment 3” (the first fragment being my labrun performance at UC Berkeley in Fall 2008 (http://tdps.berkeley.edu/) and the second being my performance at the Milk Bar (http://milkbar.org/) this past August 2009) that will be performed this December 11, 2009 representing the Berkeley Center for New Media at the CITRIS Gala at UC Berkeley (http://bcnm.berkeley.edu/ http://www.citris-uc.org/). Visit my website http://ferromurray.net for images of the first two fragments.

The conceptual context of this piece is based on accelerometer sensors. I have used wireless accelerometers in rehearsals to inspire and create the choreography. These sensors will not be worn in performance in hopes of demonstrating a spectral digital presence. I am working lately to explore the possibility for a digital tone without digital technology, so hope to explore this concept more in the presentation of this choreographic material.

Using a live video feed I will input real-time performance information into The Art Collider (TAC). I will simultaneously take visual images from the collider that will be projected in the performance space. The dancers will respond to these images live. A second projection will display a visual representation, or “monitor,” of the interaction within the larger networked TAC.

In addition, I will extend the network beyond the Internet connection and the performance space itself. The live feed of the performance will be broadcast throughout the Sutardja Dai Hall on LCD screens that are placed in various locations throughout the building, thereby extending a network not only online, but also throughout the physical space of the building.

Project Updates:

12/2/09 The project is coming along quite famously at the moment. I just had a great meeting with Robin to work out the flowmixer and VLC. I am particularly interested in using the flowmixer for real-time text interaction over images. I am also excited to have such an accessible tool for real-time mixing in a performance environment. With the performance event just under two weeks away I will now begin staging my dancers and configuring the projections in the theater. Tomorrow I will work to configure two cameras that are built into the theater space with the VLC and flowmixer.