Georgian Court University’s Departments of Art & Visual Studies and Dance have collaborated to create “Other Bodies,” an exhibit in which dance and movement inventions have been generated in response to visual artist Farris Ellington’s large paintings of humanoids with animalistic features. This event will take place on Friday, February 8, at 7:30 p.m. in Dance Studio 2 of the Wellness Center, located on GCU’s historic Lakewood campus.
“As an artist, I am always ready and excited in experimenting with new material,” says GCU alumna Farris Ellington ’18, Atco, who was mentored by Leo Morrissey, GCU associate professor of art and chair of the Department of Art and Visual Studies. “Recently, I’ve been drawn to humanoids with animalistic features, and for this project, worked with acrylic on canvas for the first time. The larger the creatures get, the more they seem to come alive; creating a contemplative space open for interpretation.”
Alongside Ms. Ellington’s artwork and live music improvisation by Kevin Grossman, the dancers will create living sculptures composed of two bodies intertwined. This multipart body will contain a multitude of images and become a new “body,” an unexpected creature whose movement is conditioned by its new form.
The direction and concept were created by choreographer Silvana Cardell, GCU associate professor and chair of the Department of Dance. The movement inventions and performances were created in a research process with dance students Taylor Rivera, South Toms River; Esmeralda Luciano, Lakeland, Florida; Allyson “Ally” Ferry, Allenwood; Quincy Southerland, Long Branch; Brianna Griffin, Matawan; Daria Raguseo, Wyckoff; and Eliza Roman, Toms River.
“We have eight solos and/or duets that last about 3 to 5 minutes each,” says Ms. Cardell, who describes “Other Bodies” as a 50/50 collaborative creative process between the two departments. Audience members will walk through as the dancers perform, making it a truly immersive experience.
“Other Bodies” is free and open to the public. No reservations are required. For more information, call Kathleen Settles at 732-987-2170.
