a long-form performance wandering among the poetic and practical associations of “the possible” in a world of fluctuating personal, material, political and artistic contingencies.
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Willamette Week review of the first mile by Suzette Smith.
Oregon Arts Watch review of the first mile by Amy Leona Havin
In this work, both solo and collaborative, Linda Austin animates and wanders along a series of spatial paths totaling 3 miles, envisioned as giant drawings, spells, and/or runes. These path are threaded through with a variety of movement scores, choreographies, tasks, interactions with objects, guest artists, texts, songs, and sound compositions. Although much of the investigation is movement based, visual, sonic, textual and discursive interventions touch upon utopian longings, possible world theory, hope giving way to grief and back again, and the pleasures of getting lost.
Austin presented the first mile of this work in her home studio in a series of 10 performances in the fall of 2021. Mile 2 was performed in October 2022. A single performance of Mile 1 + 2, lasting close to 3 hours hours was shared with friends in December 2022. The finished work will measure 3 miles and last as long as it lasts, approximately 4-4.5 hours. The work in its entirety‚ i.e. all 3 miles, will be presented in September 2023.
Ticket link coming soon!
Thank you to the Regional Arts & Culture Council, the Oregon Arts Commission Career Opportunity Grant, Djerassi Resident Artist Program, the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation Residency, and many individual friends and supporters!
Performance Works NW || Linda Austin Dance 