student work
Performance, Ecology and Sustainability (2024-)
Ecologies perform: artists make performances in and with ecologies. Examining everything from sustainable design and production practices to conceptual, creative approaches to engagement with ecologies, this course will look at the consideration of the non-human in performance through multiple lenses. Students will hear talks from professional performance-makers engaged in sustainability and ecology, learn about sustainable initiatives within Concordia, and create their own works in response to ecological approaches, cycles, materials and themes. How do we work with ecologies to be sustainable performance-makers? This course offers multiple answers to this question.
JUST: A Short Works Festival (2024)
This course is meant to provide students with conceptual, practical and pedagogical support as they navigate the challenges and joys of creating a public performance within an original festival of Short Works. More info about the event, the shows and their creators here. Each piece was a 45 minute original work devised, written, designed, directed and/or performed by students. This course takes place as a regular event within the Concordia Theatre Department, where the festival serves as a creative output for the student community, and a capstone event for some Performance Creation students. Photos by Brooklyn Melnyk.
IN ORDER:
if only, glitter glue (i am filled with uncontrollable rage), DE-PATTERN, just a Rube Goldberg machine
Celestial Performance Design (2023-)
This course examines the elements and history of performance designed in concert with celestial entities: the sun, moon, stars, tides and beyond. Students are invited to explore a variety of approaches, including independent research, reading, attendance at guest lectures, experimentation and project work. The main goal is to introduce students to languages, tools and techniques of Celestial Performance Design. Central to this course is a grounding in the theory and practice of conception, communication and realization of design in both lecture and laboratory settings.
Ethics & Materiality (2023)
This course examines the material elements and ethical processes of design in theatre & performance. Students are invited to explore a variety of approaches, developing processes of Conception and Realization. The main goal is to introduce students to ethical languages, tools and techniques of Design for Theatre and Performance. Central to this course are considerations of sustainability, equity, safety, wellness and cultural sensitivity across disciplines.
Elements of Multimedia (2023-)
This course examines the elements of media in theatre & performance. Students are invited to explore a variety of approaches, developing conceptual processes. The main goal is to introduce students to languages, tools and techniques of media as it works with live performance. Central to this course is a grounding in the theory and practice of conception and communication of design in both lecture and laboratory settings.
Designing for Public Performance (2023)
This course is meant to provide students with conceptual, practical and pedagogical support as they navigate the challenges and joys of designing for public performance. During this season, students collaborated with professional directors and technical staff to build the shows LOAM (directed by Cristina Cugliandro), GRIEF (directed by Jessica Carmichael) and conceptual development for an original circus production of “‘Till Human Voices Wake Us,” directed by Shana Carroll. Production photos by Brooklyn Melnyck. Pictured below: LOAM, then GRIEF.
Introduction to Scenography (2022-)
An overview of design for live performance at Concordia University. Students from Acting, Performance Creation and Scenography go through a series of projects and exercises designed to prompt them to consider material, light, sound, media and space in performance.
FALL 2022
Workshop for Artistic Research and Practice (2019-2022)
A contemporary foundations program at the University of Florida: an intensive course, 6 credits and 10 contact hours a week, designed to introduce first-year students to contemporary art and design practices.
SPRING 2022
FALL 2021
co-instructor Adrian Gonzalez
SPRING 2021
co-instructor Jesse Ring
FALL 2020
co-instructor Morgan Yacoe
SPRING 2020
co-instructor Annemarie Furlong
FALL 2019
co-instructors Bethany Taylor and David Bogus
Interactive Studio (2017-18)
An upper-division undergraduate course at Grand Valley State University, exploring interactive technologies and paradigms. Students learn basic electricity, processing, arduino, max/msp, and consider human/apparatus interactions. More information and student work examples on the course website.
Time Studio (2016-19)
Student work examples from Time Studio, an upper-division undergraduate course focusing on video, sound, performance and conceptual explorations of Time at Grand Valley State University. Students learn video and sound editing as well as performance practices. For more information, check out the course website.
Making and Meaning (2016-19)
Student work examples from Making and Meaning, a Contemporary Art Foundations course at Grand Valley State University, required of Art & Design majors, and open to non-majors. Explore more examples on the course website.
Introduction to Performance (2015)
Student work from “Introduction to Performance” at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2015.
