Rite of Spring

Rite of Spring (2024), was recently on exhibition in the Museum of Fine Art in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a fourteen-minute expanded cinema triptych, consisting of three perpendicular, wall-sized projections. It is a black and white film, expanded onto three planes using three projectors. Each projection has its own unique imagery in reference to the story. The film, as it was installed in MOFA (see images below), expands from a center projection on a center wall into two projections on the perpendicular flat walls on the right and left sides. The room-like space is filled with a dynamic audioscape with six speakers in three locations. Viewers hear nature, the performers in the film, and a musical score, which reference’s Stravinsky’s ballet of the same name. There is a different audio experience with each step, as one moves through the space.  

The film is a psychological journey, open for the viewer’s personal interpretation. Seven improvisational dancers perform the story of a woman’s multi-faceted personality as she contends with grief, loss, and the hope of healing. The stylistic choices are a reaction to director Maya Deren’s work: surreal form and intentional silence. The bodies of the performers drive the story, in both their movements and their interactions with the environment. The film is influenced by ballet, which is seen in the performers’ movements, interactions between the three projected images, the editing and pacing, and the audioscape. 

Note: The video below depicts the Rite of Spring tryptic in three small rectangles to simplify viewing. It is important to remember while viewing, that each rectangle represents a wall-sized projection. Try to imagine yourself in the space (viewing the installation photos below) or use a projector if you have one (highly recommended!).