STOREFRONT DIVA – Phase One
Concept by Joan La Barbara
This project is a collaboration with composer Joan La Barbara and pianist Kathleen Supova, Marija Plavsic and myself. “Storefront Diva” is inspired by a dream fragment from Joseph Cornell’s Journals, in which he described seeing Debussy playing piano in a store, through the window.
Phase One took place on December 27, 2011 from 4 – 8 pm at 159 Bleecker St. a pop-up store location directly opposite Le Poisson Rouge, in the heart of Greenwich Village, Manhattan. Supova will perform a composition by La Barbara in a special set and costume designed by Marija Plavsic, accompanied by my video installation. The audience was able to see and hear Supova playing through the store window. Creating a fusion of past and present, and of dream and waking states.
“Storefront Diva” was made possible in part with public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, with addition funding from the New York University Adjunct Faculty Professional Development Fund and American Music Center/Composer Assistance Program. Generous support was also provided by Yamaha Artist Services and Materials for the Arts, DCA.