I was originally trained in drawing and painting, and this upbringing became influential in my style of animation. No matter my depth of knowledge in advancing technology, I feel a constant urge to create my work directly with my hands. The artist hand must be apparent in all my work; otherwise, I find it lacking a sense of the human spirit.

Christian Boltanski states in regard to the mark of the hand, “I want it to look like homemade cake, you know, that touch, and for me my work is never perfect… I think very often here the work is so perfect that the emotion has gone. I think it’s good when you are doing this kind of work, spending a long time making it; …you can think.”

This was an experiment of multiple processes, mixing traditional life painting with the animation process of rotoscoping. The result is a study of the hand in the round, while simultaneously rendering the artist’s hand in time.

I explored my concerns for the influences that formed my identity. This animation was the beginning of a larger exploration into my personal narrative, which derived from this quote, “For a cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted.” This means, whatever fills the cup is what spills out; therefore, your life should only be filled with what is considered good.

In my practice, I spend time in physical communication with my materials, almost fighting with it, till it becomes something that can stand apart from me while still referencing my own experience. Within my range of mediums, I see both the process and the resulting work as spaces of contemplation in time.

Andrea Dezso states, “In contemporary life I’m thinking about the lifespan of a person and the decisions of how to spend one’s life, what is important, meaningful, true. Time is perhaps the one thing that never increases in a person’s life; it only decreases until it runs out. ….so what you choose to spend your time doing becomes significant. Drawing can be a devotional act. I’m drawn to art that renders time visible. “

The Collaborators and Coherence

Just as the title of this collaborative work suggests, there are many layers that blend, intertwine, and compete to create the unified wholeness of this creative endeavor. Inspired by her grandmother who was recently diagnosed with dementia, Lindsey Medina, the studio artist and paint on glass animator of this project, is interested in the concept of memory loss, the fracturing of memory, and how the distortion of our perception influences how we see the world through our individual eyes. Why do we hold onto certain memories? And how do we develop, change, or even lose our sense of identity based on the recollection of these memories?

Heather Boni, the choreographer and movement designer for this project, has been an advocate of integrated performing arts throughout the country for over 10 years. She is interested in our unique perceptions of limitations and how these concepts of limits drive and shape our individualized character and calling. In Coherence, Heather works with Rebecca to design a movement vocabulary that questions how our unique perceptions of change and difference both contribute to, and challenge, our sense of self and character.

Rebecca Metcalfe has a diverse educational background in biology and dance and she loves to challenge herself to try new creative endeavors. She was in a severe car accident 12 years ago that left her with neurological issues and physical limitations. After a rich conversation about memories both lost and found after her accident, she shared the scans of her brain after her traumatic incident.

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