Together for over 30 years the team of Art Bridgman and Myrna Packer have developed a highly unique approach to integrating video into their work by making it their third dance partner. Co-commissioned by Portland Ovations, the multimedia work Voyeur finds inspiration in the themes and scenes found in the artwork of American painter Edward Hopper and invites audiences into an evocative world of dance and video. With a set of open windows and doorways, bearing witness to fragmented moments of private life is at the heart of Voyeur, providing the audience the same opportunity to be "one who looks."
As a co-commissioner, Portland Ovations hosted Art Bridgman, Myrna Packer and the duo's video collaborator Peter Bobrow for a week last August when they filmed footage for the piece in and around the Portland area. Looking for locations that were reminiscent of Hopper's paintings, many members of the Portland community opened their businesses and homes to Bridgman|Packer Dance, and the world premiere at ICA gives the community a chance to see how their locations were transformed to the visuals of this incredible work.
Admission is free for Portland Ovations presentation of Bridgman|Packer Dance's Voyeur. Space is limited and performance attendance is first come first served. The performance will take place over two days starting during October's First Friday Art Walk on October 5 with performances at 6 pm, 7:15 pm and 8:30 pm and continues Saturday, October 6 with performances taking place at 2 pm, 3 pm and 7 pm.
On the afternoon of Saturday, October 6 from 4 pm to 5:30 pm Ovations Offstage will be holding an "Inter-media Panel Discussion" at ICA, where Art Bridgman and Myrna Packer are joined by Daniel Fuller, Director of ICA, Owen Smith, New Media Director of Intermedia MFA, University of Maine; and Ling-Wen Tsai, Associate Professor of Sculpture at MECA in an examination of the relationship between dance, visual, and media arts. Call 207.773.3150 for more information about Ovation Offstage events.
Bridgman|Packer Dance, Voyeur is presented in collaboration with Bates Dance Festival and The ICA at MECA with support provided by The Center for Cultural Exchange Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Portland Phoenix is a media sponsor of the event.
About Portland Ovations
Each year since 1931, Portland Ovations brings a dynamic season of exceptional performing artists from around the world to Maine including classical music, jazz, opera, dance, theater, and Broadway national tours. In addition to live performances, Ovations brings the exhilaration of the performing arts out into our community with season-long educational and outreach activities known as Ovations Offstage. A Maine-based non-profit, Portland Ovations contributes to the cultural, social and economic well-being of our community by presenting an array of high quality performing artists from around the world and creating diverse educational experiences that bring the enjoyment, energy and enrichment of the arts to all.
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