Three weeks in the making, the final product of FLOAT is nearly ready for its Bowdoin debut. The collaboration between visiting artist Layla Mrozowski, Assistant Professor of Art Alicia Eggert's Sculpture I Class and three dancers will culminate in a performance on Sunday in Morrell Lounge.
First acquainted during their days at Alfred University, where Eggert was a graduate student and Mrowoski an undergraduate, the artists quickly became friends. They are now collaborating again in Mrowoski's latest artistic endeavor: to join dance, sculpture and conceptual art in a performance piece.
The basis of the piece is the physical interaction of performers and sculpture with the conceptual integration of space and time.
The dedicated dancers, whom Mrowoski describes as "fantastic," are Tasha Sandoval '13, Audrey Blood '13 and former student Alex Pfister '10. They practiced 10 hours per week in addition to full days they sacrificed over Fall Break.
"The dancers have contributed a significant amount of creative energy and work," said Mrowoski.
Sandoval spoke of the rewards of being part of this unique project.
Impressed by Mrowoski's ability to mesh choreography that she has prepared with improvision, Sandoval found it "really valuable to get to be part of her creative process."
Mrowoski's aptitude for improvisation has been particularly influential on Sandoval's own creative process. She believes the generation of "movement through improvisation" has made her "more comfortable with certain types of movement." This ability, she believes, is helpful for dancers to better understand the nature and fluidity of movement.
New to multi-media performance, Sandoval is "both nervous and excited about working with sculptures."
She anticipates the challenge will be rewarding to herself and others.
"I think it's a great way for Bowdoin students to be introduced to a piece of art that reaches across traditional mediums," said Sandoval.
The sculpture students had slightly more freedom with their contributions.
Rachel Canas '13 spoke of their unconstrained assignment—the students were given "abstract ideas from which we drew our own ideas."
The sculpture students are still unaware of how exactly their pieces will be integrated.
"It will definitely be interesting to see how our sculptures are incorporated," said Canas.
Canas is enthusiastic to "see the results of our hard work" as part of the performance, she said.
A self-described artistic director, Mrowoski was pleased that FLOAT has many sources of creative influence.
While the organic transformation of the dance seems to pose no problem, the sculptures are the only source of minor restriction.
"We are still adjusting," said Mrowoski, speaking to the challenge of performing in an inflatable costume.
Though practice has mainly taken place off site, she anticipates no problem integrating the piece into Morrell Lounge.
"The piece has developed in a way that can translate ... relatively easily," said Mrowoski.
FLOAT will take place on Sunday, October 17 at 6 p.m. in Morrell Lounge, Smith Union.
It is free and open to the public.