WAITLESS 2009

  WAITLESS is a single-channel video loop is projected onto a smoky grey feather. The subject of the video is a white silhouette of a female form performing handstand after handstand, but meticulously edited so that only the apex of each handstand (the moments of true physical equilibrium) are left in the video loop. The resulting movie has a slightly choppy effect, in that the edits are apparent, but each time, as the subject’s hands and legs approach a vertical apex, an overall feeling of seamless balance is achieved. Ironically, this feather, the lightest of objects, bears the projected weight of the human body as it challenges the gravitational pull of the earth by attempting to stand upside down. The feather is an almost weightless object (light as a feather…) and, due to editing’s ability to compress time; the human doesn’t have to wait to feel the weightless sensation that occurs when perfect balance is achieved. The looped action seems effortless, almost ethereal, and the feather appears sturdy.

  A soft soundtrack accompanies WAITLESS in the form of sweet, rough guitar chords being practiced over and over. The song being learned is “Dream On” by Aerosmith (from their 1st, self-titled album) and the musician seems to only get so far as the first 2 chords, then starts over, … & over…practicing again and again, almost always getting it right as the loop continues. The theme of practice as a means to perfection resounds in both the sonic and visual elements of the piece.