Elizabeth Baker presented “Headspace/I Found a Pearl in the Wall This Morning” at The Gallery at Avalon Island, (39 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801). This was a new work by new renaissance artist Elizabeth A. Baker, which
unfolded as a sonic and movement ritual exploring the meditative state of
opening the mind and vulnerable action of opening one’s heart. The work
incorporated interactive electronics, fixed media, lighting, dance,
Indian harmonium, toy piano, and found objects.
For the first half of the performance the artist, dressed in what appeared to be a bathrobe moved from instrument to instrument.I sketched her in the various locations incorporating her multiple times into the sketch. The audience sat in two rows of chairs on either side of the open performance space. As it grew dark outside, the dozen or so candles on the floor were the only illumination. Sounds were recorded and repeated to achieve hypnotic effects.
The program described the
performance of an “Autonomous Controller” who prompted the Automaton range from musical
instructions to movement instructions to interaction with the audience
and performance space. The Automaton constantly carried a tablet to see the prompts from the Anonymous Controller. I can’t claim to understand what was happening, but it was visually fascinating to sketch. Pam Schwartz and several other members of the audience were given drum sticks to tap a beat on the floor. I passed on the interactive opportunity since my hands were occupied.
There was a short intermission and then Elizabeth came out dressed head to toe in a golden jump suit with a Mexican wrestler style golden hooded mask. She performed on the tiny piano like the one used by Schroeder in the Peanuts cartoon strip. Red lights projected patterns on the walls. Wires snaked everywhere on the floor. I left scratching my head, but, perhaps that was the point.