Waves of Mu will be presented at Performance Space 122 starting October 10th, 2008.
Kick off your shoes (literally) and step into a universe like none other. Informed by the monumental discovery of mirror neurons and created alongside world-renowned neuroscientists, (according to neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran, "The discovery of mirror neurons is the most important unpublicized story of the decade," doing for psychology what DNA has done for biology), Amy Caron's beautifully complex two-room installation-performance drives multidisciplinary art headlong into new territory. Her warped lab/lecture/experiment gives a nod and a wink to hard science while cleverly activating her "test subjects" to cheer, cringe, and discover through experience, a new awareness of the profundity of our interpersonal world.
With Waves of Mu, Utah-based maverick Amy Caron braves new terrain in multidisciplinary art – emphasis on multi. Created in collaboration with renowned neuroscientists, this two-room show offers an experiential understanding of mirror neurons – a discovery that recently rocked the neuroscience field and spawned new areas of study.
In room one, the deliberately small audience is turned loose in their socks to explore a flashy wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling representation of neuroanatomy. A velvet floor tessellation, spectacular custom chandeliers, and surprising paintings, photography, and sculpture add to the room's neurological intrigue, while the reverb of mutant-dub reggae brings a sense of playful disorientation. Next, the audience moves to room two – a proscenium setting with a curious set that extends into the audience. Between video, theatre, and movement sections, Caron assumes the role of scientist and places the audience in unexpected positions of observation. Without batting an eye, she combines hard science with experimental theories to challenge conventions, stun and incite – a powerful mode of education.
Waves of Mu wields an original format that cleverly fulfills Caron's scheme to trigger the mirror neurons of the audience. Her work breaks the traditions of overly austere or dumbed down art-science presentations by reinvigorating the natural relationship between art and science with a contemporary flair.
Waves of Mu is presented as part of Room, a commissioning program created by Performance Space 122 to encourage artists to collaborate with experts outside the traditional performing disciplines.
More about Performance Space 122
Performance Space 122 is New York's ultimate destination for cutting-edge theatre, dance, music, live art and cross-media. Founded in 1979, Performance Space 122 is dedicated to supporting and presenting artists whose work challenges the traditional boundaries of dance, theatre, music, and performance. Committed to exploring innovative form as well as material, PS 122 is steadfast in its search for pioneering artists from a diversity of cultures and points of view.
Waves of Mu runs Friday, October 10 – Sunday, October 19 the following schedule: Tuesday – Saturday at 7:30pm/Sunday at 5:30pm. Tickets from $20, $15 (students/seniors), $10 (P.S. 122 members). Tickets may be purchased online at
www.ps122.org or via phone at (212) 352-3101. Performance Space 122 is located at 150 First Avenue at East 9th Street, New York, New York 10009.
www.ps122.org.
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