We Grasp at Straws (Take One) by Katherine Behar
Curl, Twist, Reach
About
Artist Katherine Behar commissioned Charlotte Griffin to assemble dance artists and choreograph for this single-channel 4K video installation as part of "Katherine Behar: Ack! Knowledge! Work!" solo exhibition curated by Jesse Colin Jackson for the UCI Beall Center for Art + Technology. Irvine, CA, USA. February 3–April 20, 2024. Looking at human-machine collaboration and dexterity through robotics and basketry, the video captures the ensemble of five dancers embodying the fingers of a hand to grasp at a larger-than-life straw in a futile and absurd attempt at remote group puppetry.
Photos by Heather Seybolt
Support
Created with support from Creative Capital and supported in part by the Black Box Projects Residency at the Beall Center for Art + Technology, and the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences at Baruch College.
The project received crucial support from the Claire Trevor School of the Arts, with generous contributions of motion capture facilities and skilled technicians. Dr. Kelli Sharp's Lab at the University of California, Irvine played a pivotal role.
The ISPACE at California State University, Long Beach provided valuable support by contributing OptiTrack motion capture facilities and technicians.
Photos by Heather Seybolt
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Title
We Grasp at Straws (Take One)Media
Single-channel 4K video with sound; 12 minutes 56 seconds
Premiere
2024, "Katherine Behar: Ack! Knowledge! Work!" Solo exhibition. Beall Center for Art + Technology. Irvine, CA, USA. February 3–April 20, 2024. Curated by Jesse Colin Jackson.Artist
Katherine BeharDancers
Nola Gibson, Aliya Kerimujiang, Darrian O'Reilly, Waeli Wang, Magnolia Yang Sao Yia
Choreographer
Charlotte Griffin
Director of Photography
Maximillian Harper
Animator
Silvia Ruzanka
Vicon Motion Capture Director, UCI
Dr. Kelli Sharp
Vicon Motion Capture Technicians Whitney Schmanski and Zuri Fors
OptiTrack Motion Capture, ISPACE Dennis Lupresto (Director) with Tom Nguyen (Lead), Cesar Sigala, Loc Luong, and Monica Robles
Sound
Bitstance
Colorist
Myles Stelling
Production Assistant / Swing
Nancy Nguyen
Understudy / Production Assistant Veronica AllenFilm Producer
Waeli Wang
Documentarian
Prettymega Inc.