Mercuria, 1995-98, multimedia performance

“Mercuria” was a collaborative multimedia project that Lynn Book developed and performed with vocal artist and Meredith Monk company member, Theo Bleckmann from 1995 to 1998. The Mercuria collection is comprised of several video documents from Chicago and New York including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, and at HERE in New York City. Overall, the artists considered this project an encounter with the fluidity of time, desire, sexuality and memory through robust vocal and physical experimentation and composition. They co-designed the lighting and staging, as well as the real time recording through various audio cassette players known as the ‘walkman’. Book was the primary writer of text passages for the performance, with Beckmann contributing to more improvised sections, such as “Two Fighters”. “Mercuria” got its start as “In Passing” when Book was invited for a project residency at one of Chicago’s most enduring alternative artist-run spaces (1973-1997). She and Bleckmann, who lived in New York, launched their process via “mail, fax, phone and tape”. Collaborators along the way included, Chris Pretorious, Eric Leonardson and Jens Brand. The collection includes several video documents, both edited and complete performances, performance text and notes, color slides and photo stills, venue brochures and announcements, and press reviews.

Credits:
Lynn Book, co-creator, co-artistic director, writer, composer, performer
Theo Bleckmann, co-creator, co-artistic director, composer, performer

Collaborators and Contributors:
Jens Brand, Sound
Chris Pretorious, Lighting
Eric Leonardson, Sound

Performance Dates:
1995, N.A.M.E. Gallery, Chicago
1996, Movement Research at Judson Church, New York City
1997, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
1998, HERE, New York City