our first solo exhibition––with the fossil fools collective––at the university of northern iowa. complete with live performances, sculpture, painting, and video/sound installations. curators darrell and david were patient, cordial, and inspiring in their ability to put up a show. two works were represented while there: a live performance of an ever-changing series of pieces using samples based on oil, coal, miners, and other energy related themes; and “energy wars,” a sound/video installation. activists, students, faculty, and artists were among the great people we met.

Quicktime images/excerpt

the audio excerpt is from “conversations with coal miners and with death,” a piece that explores the sadness, pride, and psychology that come with living near and working in coalmines. it attaches a human voice to a hidden component (and cost) of our energy consumption. In times where miners still face death as part of their daily work, the mines become a modern-day underworld that evoke the myth of orpheus, his sad and mournful songs, and his unsuccessful descent below the earth’s surface to bring back eurydice. (from june 6-july 2, 2006)