Filed under: Fall 2008
Translations of Lorca, 2006 (see video)
For this interdisciplinary collaborative project, I worked with the director of Central Washington University’s Chamber Choir and another filmmaker to create a video installation, which coincided with a live performance of the “Suite de Lorca” written by a famous Finnish composer, Einojuhani Rautavaara. The synchronized installation consisted of compatible imagery, compiled from video-based observations of nature and travels through various environments, projected on two separate 9 x 12 foot screens placed on either sides of the choir. Shifting with the music from fast to slow, light to dark, frantic to meditative, the film follows an anonymous figure whose presence serves as a conduit for one’s inner quest.
* single channel video only will be presented at Western Michigan University.
Previous documentation: Translations of Lorca, Two-Channel Video Installation with Live Choir, Central Washington University, 2006
Translations of Lorca … 12.1 – 12.20.2008
Atrium Gallery – Western Michigan University
Originally from Southwestern Ohio, Michael Sherwin received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from The Ohio State University in 1999, and in June of 2004 he received his Master of Fine Arts in Photography from the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. He has taught a variety of photography and digital imaging courses at institutions including: the Center for the Arts in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Maude Kerns Art Center in Eugene, Oregon, the University of Oregon and Central Washington University. After an eight-year stint in the Northwest, Michael recently returned to the East to accept a position as Assistant Professor of Photography and Digital Imaging at West Virginia University. He has won numerous grants and awards for his work, and has been exhibited widely. He is also an active and participating member of the Society for Photographic Education, and the College Art Association.
Michael Sherwin – Morgantown West Virginia
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The gospel like audio and outdoor scenes work very well as representation of an inner quest. The city Lorca itself seems to be full of religious history with its baroque churches and unique devotion like atmosphere, so the title seems fitting. I would like to see the complete installation with the extra screen to get the artist’s full intent, yet the single screen seems to be working well by itself.
Comment by Tracy December 2, 2008 @ 10:34 amI love this concept, live performance matched with a contributive video. Occasionally the handheld motion became distracting, but in someplace it really lent itself to the idea of a very personal inner quest. Also, a confession: I love choral music. I have frequently thought about what moments in my life would be set to choral arrangements if my life were a movie, although I think doing this really geeky thing completely negates any moment being worth choral music.
Comment by Adrienne Marks December 2, 2008 @ 2:46 pmbeautiful yet disconcerting imagery. most of the nature imagery is at a time of the year where it is cold and dead. The choral music suits that mood in my opinion. This is suppose to be somewhat about the inner self so perhaps thats why i view this as slightly dark and cold. i can imagine this would be much more effective as the live installation, however, i still enjoy it.
Comment by Nick December 4, 2008 @ 4:44 pmThe use of the choir was powerful and was like a narration of the imagery in a way. The shots moving through the environment was interesting in that they were all involving darkness. The live performance with both screens must have been pretty emotional. Because for some reason the use of the choir just does it for me. I feel that it brings the intensity that the nature shown in the video deserves.
Comment by zac December 13, 2008 @ 6:50 pmThe idea the idea of an inner quest is really powerful, as well as the choir being present and guiding, or narrating the quest is an interesting adaptation to the installation.
Comment by jake huizenga December 14, 2008 @ 3:08 pmI’m not sure I agree with the use of the choral music, it just seemed too “bright” against mostly calming and sometimes dreary scenes. I also wasnt very fond of the very foggy/cloudy scenes, they almost had too much ambiguity. Other than that though, I enjoyed how it was put together, especially the occasional use of figure in some of the scenes.
Comment by Brandon December 14, 2008 @ 10:21 pmThe use of the projector screens threw me off a little. I enjoyed the music to be interrelated with the visual but had a feel that the audio and the choir physically took over from the screens
Comment by kevin G March 23, 2009 @ 4:04 pm