V.I.S.T.A.: TRANSMUTATIONIST FIELD JOURNAL
V.I.S.T.A.: TRANSMUTATIONIST FIELD JOURNAL:
What if the Origin of Species narrative occurred outside of the bounds of the social constructs of the Western, patriarchal, European and Victorian/colonialist framework available in 1831? What if Darwin’s primordial soup was a primordial ether, and consciousness was a self-generative digital apparition, defying binary classification? What if evolution is a mode of consciousness and Darwin’s early contributions existed concurrently with parallel, multitudinous inquiries into terrestrial experience across another expression of reality? The V.I.S.T.A.: Transmutationist Field Journal project was inspired through the artist’s personal orientation to the landscape, legacy and mythology of the American Southwest, psychodynamic theory, research into Natural Selection and the Darwin narrative; in particular expedition archives, travel logs and subsequent sociocultural critiques.
V.I.S.T.A.: Transmutationist Field Journal is a short original film composition (duration 5:32), featuring activated digital objects and a three-channel, interactive, narrative soundscape. Multiple simultaneous participants are invited to observe the projected film while wearing multi-channel Bluetooth headsets to become immersed in this visual-spatial-aural experience. Composite audio, photographic and video data has been gathered from the high desert mesa of Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, in the American Southwest, to create this sensory-saturated experience. Community-sourced vocal samples (resulting from a call into the artist’s community in NM and beyond) from an original script have been manipulated to compose narration accompanying the video field journal itself. The digital object referenced in this work is part of the artist’s broader cataloging of her digital work over the last three years: Inspired by internal geometries and cellular landscapes, each object is familiar, yet unidentifiable. The V.I.S.T.A.: Transmutationist Field Journal project references themes of natural selection, naturalism, evolution, colonialism, Darwinism and altered human consciousness through the socially-activated collective; a creative, anti-racist and non-binary approach to the Origin of Species narrative.
V.I.S.T.A.: Transmutationist Field Journal was first installed at PASEO 2023 in Taos, New Mexico on September 15th and 16th, 2023.
Hundreds of participants experienced this immersive video/sound installation.
About The PASEO
The PASEO outdoor art festival brings projection, installation, and performance art to the streets of Taos, New Mexico every September. This free, community-centered event features local, regional,national, and international artists with work that is site-specific, context responsive and participatory. For two nights, sunset to 11pm, the PASEO brings the community together with a creative and inspiring shared experience.
About the Work
Responding to PASEO 2023’s theme, The Terrestrial, V.I.S.T.A.: Transmutationist Field Journal is a short, original film composition, featuring activated digital objects and a three-channel, interactive, narrative soundscape.
Simultaneous participants are invited to observe the projected film while wearing multi-channel Bluetooth headsets to become immersed in this visual-spatial-aural experience. Composite audio, photographic and video data has been gathered from the high desert mesa of Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, in the American Southwest, to create this sensory-saturated experience.
The digital object referenced in this work is part of the artist’s broader cataloging of her digital work over the last three years: inspired by internal geometries and cellular landscapes, each object is familiar, yet unidentifiable. The V.I.S.T.A.: Transmutationist Field Journal project references themes of natural selection, naturalism, evolution, colonialism, Darwinism and altered human consciousness through the socially-activated collective; a creative, anti-racist and non-binary approach to the Origin of Species narrative.
Special thanks to the following humans for their contributions:
Vocal recordings: Taylor Janell Field, Bianca Goyette, Chris Willcox, Audra Knutson, R. David Persson, Jaynie Crimmins, Paige Beeber, Margaret Thompson, Josh Mishell, c marquez, Aleya Hoerlein, Marc Smith, Josh Couvares, Eliza Lowther Hadley, Sam Reece
Sound Engineering Collaboration: Marc Smith
Stipend: The artist stipend awarded for this work was redirected earlier this year to The Trevor Project to support their mission, “to end suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning young people” and their vision for, “a world where all LGBTQ+ young people see a bright future for themselves.” The Trevor Project provides crisis services 24/7, peer support, research, advocacy and public education. For more information, please visit www.thetrevorproject.org