I’m always amazed at what delightfully quirky tidbits of info one can accumulate at The Artist’s Bookshelf. Last night I came away with a new-found understanding of the etymology of the word “berzerk,” an intriguing introduction to the post-modern postulating of Heideggerian philosophers, and a renewed appreciation of the power and beauty of an early spring thunderstorm.
And it’s all Joe Chvala’s fault.
Joe was our guest, and featured artist, who came specifically to share histhoughts about David Mitchell’s intriguing novel CLOUD ATLAS, and to examine some of the similarities between that work, and his own dance/theatre/music creation BETWEEN THE FIRE AND ICE which he staged at the Walker in December.
The similarities centered first around structure (both works were dense, highly structured and multi-layered), then theme (both works examined our concept of civilization as a human construct and had some critical things to say about issues ofpower and control) and finally, both pieces worked on a larger, mythical level by focusing on primal elements of nature.
All of this heady discussion transpired as we watched, through the windows of the ninth floor conference room,a thunderstorm roll majestically across the downtown skyline.
Get Walker Reader in your inbox. Sign up to receive first word about our original videos, commissioned essays, curatorial perspectives, and artist interviews.