ritual

ross island, antarctica

2008

Subtle change marks transition.  Paralleling scientific data collection processes, I utilized methodic ritual to document the dynamic, yet seemingly subtle barren antarctic landscape. During December 2006 and December 2007, I repeatedly visited the same geographic area, an expansive snow and crevasse field of Ross Island. Here, I collected short video clips and photographic stills that document the quickly changing meteorological environment; concurrently National Science Foundation teams monitored this area in a multi-year study recording the impact of global climate change.

"If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If it is still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all." -John Cage.

VIDEO 1: ross island, antarctica. december 10th, 2006

 VIDEO 2: ross island, antactica. december 17th, 2006

VIDEO 3: ross island, antarctica. december 24th, 2006

VIDEO 4: ross island, antarctica. december 25th, 2006

VIDEO 5: ross island, antarctica. december 9th, 2007

VIDEO 6: ross island, antarctica. december 12th, 2007

VIDEO 7: ross island, antarctica. december 15th, 2007

These videos were some of the visual results of my data collection.

"If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If it is still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all." -John Cage.

ice woman

ross ice shelf, antarctica
2007

















Through a series of previous writings and one-on-one conversations with Korean artist Kimsooja, I explored the implications of mimicking, re-doing with attentive embodied awareness, art performances within my own experience. This project culminates that work, subtly referencing Kimsooja’s work, Needle Woman, within my skin and my experience.  Rather than occurring in an urban populated area, this performance occurs on the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica.

The Ross Island ice shelf is an expanse of permanently frozen ocean; 40 meters of packed snow and ice floats on 120 meters of ocean water.

The air, perfectly still. I chose a spot where a simple perfectly straight line divided the snow from the sky. A silence unlike any silence found in inhabited places, hung in the cold afternoon air. Perfectly still, I remained there. Camera rolling my body pieces together the expansive silent sky and the lifeless frozen tundra.