Date of Award
Spring 5-29-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
Art
First Advisor
Alexandro Segade
Second Advisor
A.K. Burns
Academic Program Adviser
Carrie Moyer
Abstract
Influenced by traumatic bodily injuries, physical therapy, muscle growth, breathing patterns, mental health, ways of supporting a disabled body, navigating the health care system, and exhaustion, the work described in this paper is a double meaning of the word "organ" and investigates the body as machine. The vital parts of a pump organ, the bellows and pipes, are extracted and re-configured into structures built for the performer's entire body to physically engage with in order to produce wind-driven sounds. Two of the sound sculptures require that two performers engage in play together, allowing them to audibly communicate through moving their body. The other sound sculpture is equally invested in the merging of human and machine. Each of the sculptures were built to help maintain and grow muscle on the performer's body. All works were made in collaboration, requiring multiple bodies to act as one.
Recommended Citation
Skakun, Valerie, "Multiple Bodies as One" (2019). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/hc_sas_etds/491