‘Memor-ii’ Performance Brings Music And Visualization Together In Igloo Studio
Dr. Lynn Vartan, associate professor in the new Music Performance program that debuted this semester in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, will present her first campus performance titled “Memor-ii” on Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m.
The interarts event — hosted by the college and the Institute for Applied Creativity — will be held in the Igloo Studio on the fourth floor, Room 400A, of the Langford Architecture Center, Building C. Seating for the two-night event is full.
The one-hour performance features live music and interactive visual design in the studio’s 360-degree screen environment. It was created in collaboration with Michael Bruner, instructional assistant professor in Visualization; Dr. Jinsil Hwaryoung Seo, director of the Institute for Applied Creativity and associate professor in Visualization; and Tim Weaver, section chair for Art and Design and instructional associate professor in Visualization.
Bruner, Seo and Weaver designed 360 visual content to interact with the music as Vartan plays the marimba. The performance and the title center around memory.
“Memory is sometimes very clear and other times fleeting, but always a part of who we are,” Vartan said.
Bruner created visual accompaniments for several pieces. He said the group experimented with different techniques and technologies to create a dynamic performance.
“For one piece titled ‘Temazcal,’ I set up a wrist-tracking system that Lynn performs with to change the visuals within the space,” he said. “I’ve also helped design the show control system for playing back all of the pieces in sync with Lynn’s performance.”
Vartan will debut “Ghost I Used to Know,” written for her by composer Ivan Trevino, who is a professor of practice in percussion at the University of Texas at Austin.
Weaver developed visuals for “Mirror of Heaven” and “Ghost I Used to Know,” and collaborated with Bruner on “Middle Ground Parts 1 and 2.” “Mirror of Heaven” and “Middle Ground” are audio-reactive, Weaver said, which will be reflected in the visuals on the screen as the sounds change.
“All of the animation and movement is choreographed to Lynn’s performance,” Weaver said. “The visual result felt liked fragmented or broken memory. I loved how it turned out.”
Weaver said he is excited to showcase the animation and movement throughout each sequence. The performance is also immersive in both aural and visual effects, he said.
“While the visual work is working as an accompaniment to the music, I really hope the audience does feel part of the performance,” he said. “They will be feet away from the performer, surrounded by the work.”
Students from acting classes taught by Anne Quackenbush, assistant professor of practice in the Theatre program, recorded two-minute segment readings of poems and texts about memory with Toby Pipes, music industry relations coordinator. The reading segments will be played between songs. Grace Burton, a Music Performance student, wrote a soundscape of music for one of Vartan’s pieces.
Vartan said she hopes guests walk away with an appreciation for interarts performances.
“This is a merging of live music from our new music program as well as incredible artistry from our Visualization faculty,” she said. “We are all coming together for what we hope is a moving and beautiful collaboration in an intimate setting totally unique to Texas A&M and our wonderful College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts.”
Photo by Glen Vigus.
