'Moonlight' is the word for Moonlight

 

Sun September 23rd 2012 

hi Adena,

I was in the studio yesterday trying to understand what I want from this work. What my body is doing in the space.

I feel like its not about making the body alien but about annihilating it. 'I am Lauren, but less and less.' (the last page of 'The Body Artist'), stripping it of vanity and meaning, making it hollow.... and this is where the real violence is; this shutting down of the body, disconnecting from the comforts of knowing something or someone.

And I feel like the key to finding this is duration.... just a few movements, that are sustained long enough to go past meaning to allow the true weight of my body and time (and silence?) to exist in the space. I think this is a very hard task and on Friday i felt myself pull back from it maybe because  I felt some need or desire to entertain and it felt useless, just me performing tricks.... I don't want to make performance like that. Just need to keep digging deeper in....

b xx

'Moonlight' is the word for Moonlight is a new work looking at 'The Body Artist' by Don Delillo. These are extracts from the first stage development in September 2012. Performed by Brigid Jackson and Dan Shlusser, directed by Adena Jacobs with sound by Kelly Ryall.

This is - Of the Other

Before we begin... I wanted to tell you about a boy I saw in the street holding his nose yelling 'I can't breathe! I can't breathe!'
I wanted to tell you how the sun is so much sharper in Tasmania; because of a hole in the ozone layer. I wanted to tell you that you were wrong about me being brave.
I wanted to tell you that your being here makes things quite complicated.
I wanted to tell you about my body shrinking, but I didn't really want your advice.
I wanted to tell you to sit still. I wanted to tell you about the feeling of her skin under my hand.
I wanted to tell you so that I wouldn't forget.
I wanted to tell you to think less and watch more t.v.
I wanted to tell you that your passive agreement to everything I'm doing makes me feel sick.
I wanted to tell you about this terrible foreboding I had.
I wanted to tell you my dreams, but I know that you hate that.

This is- of the Other was created and performed by Brigid Jackson and Georgie R at La Mama Theater in April 2011. Image by nick stevens