BOFFO Fire Island Residency
2015
River Already Flows

Through simple directives inside of a temporal zone, our collaboration interacts with natural and architectural spaces that serve as containers for our pieces. During our Fire Island Residency and Performance we practiced Somatic Listening, inspired by experimental composer Pauline Oliveros’ Deep Listening Band, which recorded its first album in a cistern. The technique inspires non-judgmental listening and environmental sounding, stretching the boundaries of performer, listener, composer, space, structure, and mind-body. 

There is no hierarchy within our duets.  We follow rules for poetry: don’t rhyme and don’t not rhyme. We each begin with a movable score; throughout the piece we make improvisational decisions, she with movement and stillness, me with voicing and silence. Rather than directly responding to one another during the piece, we choose our individual movement and sound as we weave the air of the space. We use intention and receptivity to create a piece without an expectation of its outcome.  

Our works are adaptable to outdoors with no electricity and interiors such as libraries; it welcomes audience contribution. Our collaborations move toward harmony with space, architecture, and audience.

Our time on Fire Island was spent listening to the water of both the Bay and the Ocean in between which we were situated. We collected shells for necklaces, bowls + spoons. Jmy danced for 1hr every day at the edge of the ocean. One day she was joined by deer playing in the waves. For our performance at the “Tamplex,” one of the few lesbian houses in the Pines section of Fire Island we were joined by the house cat Strawberry, friends and shells. 

thank you Clara López Menéndez