AMENDA TATE

This video was created to document my participatory Manibus Dance-Painting Happening held at Iowa State University. It depicts how I orchestrate my events combining the necessary conditions to encourage and facilitate creative dance within a prescribed structure. The event took place in the Iowa State University Memorial Union in conjunction with my solo exhibition. The event was free and open to the general public. The Happening was covered by reporters from the Iowa State Daily. I view the product and process as halves of a whole—one creation resulting in two iterations. One has a lingering footprint that is visible for future examination and one is ephemeral disappearing as it unfolds. Either can be valuable independently, however, the pairing of both results in a more meaningful expression. The painted work completed at this Happening is titled "Memoria." It is acrylic on wood panel and measures 80" x 30". video by DEFT, Bruce James Bales

Manibus is a motion-controlled painting robot. In this work, the movement and dynamic energy of dance is translated into lines on a page. The controller device is worn on the wrist of one dancer. The completed abstract painting honors and encapsulates the fleeting moments of the dance. Choreography by Ma Cong, dance performed by Ballet Des Moines under the artistic direction of Serkan Hanusta. Manibus and process by Amenda Tate. Music is Brotsjór (Dyad 1909) Ólafur Arnalds. Screaming Silence embodies the concepts of action, reaction, and connection. "Haunted by the imagery of families being torn apart and loves ones being lost, 'Screaming Silence' explores the integral relationships and connections we form as humans. The music and choreography express the desperation of separation between loved ones with a haunting beauty, reminding us of the pain and joy we share through love." There are numerous instances of push and pull within the choreography. The dancers meld together in tangled clusters, and at times, they almost seem to pass through each other. They break apart into smaller divisions before coming back together. There is a real sense of transience within the work. The fluidity of shifting shapes and groups give a sense of isolation without being physically detached from others - a type of "loneliness without being alone". There are moments when the dancers erupt with expressions of anguish and palatable emotion. A defenseless dancer moves according to the manipulation by others. Amid poignant tension, there are bursts of intense energy that portray how togetherness supports and lifts us up. It is a thoughtful reminder that, at the core, we are all connected. Being human is more than anyone does alone. As my Manibus paint-bot responds to the movement and energy of the dance, I mindfully connect myself with the emotion, mood, and concept of the choreography, as well. I practice sensitivity in my choices relative to the work. In this instance, I consider the breaks, pauses, and shifts in dynamics throughout the number and align my color changes in time. Following several studies, I arrive at a final color scheme - one that is bold and intense while remaining comfortably familiar. The line quality is solid and sturdy at times and wispy and tenuous at others. Some paths overlap without predictable direction while others circle back upon themselves.

Manibus is a motion-controlled painting robot created by Amenda Tate. This video introduces the concept of the project, the use of Manibus as an artistic tool, the process of creation, and some hopes for subsequent manifestations and collaborations. This video was recorded in the artist's studio in downtown Des Moines, Iowa with dancer Miranda Oldenburger. The demonstration served as a proposal for the Ballet Des Moines Artist in Residency program where Tate worked with professional dancers in creative capacity during 2017.