In Reaping and Sowing, I perform repetitive gestures and movements for 6 minutes–twice–on top of a deconstructed piano that is situated flat on its back and lifted up by small white wooden blocks. By removing and “planting” the keys between the taut strings, I produce momentary, distinct sculptures, as well as sounds and silences from both the harp and the body of the instrument.  Rhizomatic and ritualistic, I invite witnesses to receive information from multiple vantage points. I challenge my traditional approach to music making and the cultural emphasis on exigency.  Using the boundaries of both my body and the piano, I explore the space between chaos and control; between frustration and catharsis; between intention and accident.

For this performance, I use a timer to structure the performance and I alternate between urgency and deliberation in the removal/replacement of the keys. My costume is designed to place visual emphasis on a specific part of my body. I utilize task-based performance. Reaping and Sowing (Fast/Slow) is a video loop diptych of the performance, filmed from an overhead perspective.