JOHN STURGEON

 

Spinning Dream

©1977

video performance - AND/OR Gallery,

​

Seattle, Washington, Curator: Norie Sato

​

b&w live & pre-recorded video, with sculptural set and spoken text

 

Spinning Dream was conceived and presented between the two performances of Conjunction/Opposition and afforded an opportunity for Sturgeon to work with the inclusion of poetic text and verbal dream information in performance.  This initial expansion of video/performance vocabulary would serve as primary elements in many of Sturgeon’s later performances.

 

As a solo performance, it included experiments with live video that would be utilized later performances, as in Conjunction/Opposition II (1979 Los Angeles) and collaborative performance as in No Earth/No Earth Station (1983 Los Angeles).  For example, the performer briefly leaving the performance space while continuing to perform in dislocated fashion, by remaining connected electronically to the audience via a live camera feed from off stage.