DOLL CHAIN

Presented in association with GOH Productions, IGUANA Collaborative 2023
Performance Team: Sherry Erskine, Bonnie Sue Stein, John K Erskine, Vít Hořejš, Roberta Levine and Dan Crozier

Concept: Sherry Erskine + Bonnie Sue Stein
Tunic design & construction: Sherry Erskine
Production: Bonnie Sue Stein
Sonic Consultant: John K Erskine
Text Consultant: Roberta Levine
Photos: Deborah Beshaw-Farrell

Anecdotal note – Nov. 12, 2023

To investigate symbols of unity and to question performance art as a form of peaceful protest, IGUANA Collaborative performed DOLL CHAIN in Art in Odd Places: DRESS Festival wearing identical robes connected at the sleeves. We chose two fabrics named “safety orange” for the robe and “flame” for the pants to explore how high-visibility orange represents protection in contemporary society and elevates a sense of importance around ones’ body. In a process-based practice, the meaning of a work evolves weeks later in reflection. We found the actual experience of meandering through 14th Street on October 15 as one anonymous, calm, joyous unit, to be cathartic at a time of social unrest and war. Wearing identical orange robes allowed us to experience the world from other perspectives and tap into the flow of energy on the street. Besides the street sounds around us, John carried a subliminal drone generator and metronome to set a tone for our movements. Passersby stopped to inquire, asked to join, laughed and stared. On numerous occasions, DOLL CHAIN circled a willing bystander to honor their being and laugh with them. To start, we literally bumped into our giant orange cousin, Kaczmarek/Miranda’s Layer of Exuberance, which prompted our spontaneous action of surrounding and reverently bowing, performing our practiced deconstructed folk dance. The action continued, as DOLL CHAIN encountered pedestrians including a construction worker, a young woman from Brooklyn, a father from Pennsylvania celebrating his birthday, a group of Dutch-speaking cyclists, a park guard and a food truck vendor. In all engagements, the public found DOLL CHAIN to be gentle and humorous.

Digging deeper, psychology says that the color orange has the ability to increase energy and creativity, yet it is also associated with spiritual practices including meditation, compassion, transformation and higher states of illumination. For example, in chakra theory, orange is the color of Svadthisthana which translates to “one’s own dwelling.” While performing slow movements, we unconsciously discovered the “orange chakra” balanced our emotions and activated our power to innovate and find creative ways of interaction. Our intention with DOLL CHAIN was to demonstrate kindness, compassion, joy and calm – all qualities of human nature that help center us while serving to shrink darker emotions. These qualities arising out of our core human goodness, connect us to one another as well as strangers we pass on the street. Together, we can cultivate care through our art practices during times of strife and strive to end human suffering.

IGUANA Collaborative was founded in 1976 by artists from Detroit: Sherry and John K Erskine and Bonnie Sue Stein. IGUANA creates hybrid [analog/digital] interdisciplinary works utilizing lens-based media, performance, installation and sound. They are denizens of the new & unusual, itching to ‘make-a-mark’ across borders and social definitions.
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