Moving in (Geologic) Time to explore sound, film, and poetry

The University of Alabama Creative Campus Initiative and New College are pleased to present guest artist Rich Curtis in an evening of experimental and interactive arts, along with UA's own visitig professor Janeann Dill and Associate Provost Hank Lazer. This multifaceted event will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, in room 125 of ten Hoor Hall on the University of Alabama campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Rich Curtis's multi-media performance Moving in Geologic Time is the culmination of a two-year writing project that investigates the intersection of performance and geologic process. Through the act of researching and writing, he began gathering residual gestures, objects, sounds, and ideas. His performance is an exploration of this residue.

Curtis is an interdisciplinary artist whose work uses sound, performance, and object-making to explore a wide range of cultural and historical references. He received his MFA from the Art Institute of Chicago in 2004. Since then, Curtis has created projects that explore the notion of place through sound. His projects include: Voices of Heritage, a three month project recording the traditional vocal techniques of the Maasai in Kenya; Sound Mapping, a sound installation using the collected sounds from around the state of Alabama; and most recently, Sight Unseen, a series of sound-response drawings and interviews conducted with blind people.

While an Artist-In-Residence for the American Center In Paris (1988-1990), Janeanne Dill was inspired to stretch the edges of her paintings and describes her animation as "painting in time." The March 11 event will feature a screening of the short black and white film Paris is a Woman, which Dill wrote, produced, and directed.

An experimental animation that provokes the concept of narration and commercial cinema, Paris is a Woman uses optically manipulated cinematography and animated photographs on behalf of the filmmaker's abiding concern for timed rhythm. Musical in editing style and poetic in structure, the visual language in this film is emotionally underscored by the original sound design of contemporary composer, Bernardo Feldman. The film has been screened internationally to receive "Best Experimental Short Film" and "Best Directorial Debut in Short Film Category" awards.

The recipient of numerous prestigious grants, Dill holds a Ph.D. in Media Philosophy, an MFA in Experimental Animation, and an M.A. and B.A. in Fine Arts (Painting, Printmaking, Drawing). As Visiting Faculty and Experimental Animation Artist in the New College (Interdisciplinary Studies), Dill is the instructor of record for seminars in Creativity (Across the Disciplines); Time, Image, Sound; Contemporary Experimental Animation Studies; and Interdisciplinary Art.

Finally, Lazer will present his poetry in experimental readings that explore spatial representation of his recent work. Lazer has published 14 books of poetry, including The New Spirit (Singing Horse, 2005), Elegies & Vacations (Salt, 2004), and Days (Lavender Ink, 2002). He has given poetry readings and talks in the United States, France, Canada, the Canary Islands, China, and Spain. Lazer's poetry has been nominated for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize and the 2004 Forward Prize. With Charles Bernstein, he edits the Modern and Contemporary Poetics Series for the University of Alabama Press.

For the past twelve years, Lazer's essays on innovative poetry, new modes of lyricism, and representations of spiritual experience have appeared in a variety of journals, including Facture, The Boston Review, Jacket, American Poetry Review, and Talisman. In 2008, Omnidawn published Lyric & Spirit: Selected Essays, 1996-2008.

Over the past few years, Lazer has collaborated with jazz musicians Tom Wolfe and Chris Kozak on some jazz & poetry improvisations and with outsider artist Pak on a series of poem-paintings. He currently is working with Dill on a poetry-video installation project. As Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Lazer oversees the operation of the Creative Campus Initiative.