A crack in a wall is energy finding the fastest way out. Cracks and fractures wind, explore, and escape. They run into new places, struggle with outside forces, and turn the places they have left into new objects.  Using both manual and digital means of live manipulation in tandem, the artists breathe life into shadows and fissures to tell the story of As Fast or Faster, a short visual poem about cracks in the material world and about the forces that become visible when the world is under stress.

Featuring/Collaborators Catherine M. Chin & Lucas Wilson-Spiro and Elle

Catherine M. Chin is an interdisciplinary writer, artist, and scholar based in northern California and in Michigan. Her work imagines what life was like in ancient animate worlds that were governed by both magic and science, as well as by gods, angels, and demons. Originally a historian by profession, she has begun work in puppetry, working as the assistant director for Obie and Bessie award-winning theatre artist Dan Hurlin, and studying puppetry with Vermont-based puppet artist Eric Bass as well as puppet artist and projection designer Tom Lee.

Greetings, Galactic Neighbor! Come on board the Aricamian spaceship in ritual, song, and hyper speed. Starring Marikata and her crew, healers of the future. Witness the illusion of time and the unrelenting drive to transmute low vibrations back into their glorified state of magnificence.

Maria Camia is from Virginia Beach, VA and received a MFA in Theatre at Sarah Lawrence College (2017) and a BFA in Sculpture + Extended Media at Virginia Commonwealth University (2013). Maria created and performed her first solo show, Transmutation Staytion (2017) and directed, designed, and wrote ARICAMA: A Galactic Landing at Sarah Lawrence College. She is set designing You For Me For You, directed by Ernest Abuba this November.

On Christmas Eve 1968 the astronauts of Apollo 8 took a picture of the Earth and changed the world.  The photo gave humanity a new perspective on our planet’s fragility and isolation in the universe. But now, 49 years later, the image of Earthrise is unimpressive. Using puppetry, movement and design elements, this piece seeks to reawaken the sense of wonderment and hope that the photo initially inspired.

Created by: Julia Corrigan, Evelyn Dumont, Joshua Langman, Andrew Murdock, Leah Ogawa, Sarah Plotkin, Renata Soares, Ashley Winkfield
Performers: Evelyn Dumont, Leah Ogawa, Renata Soares
Director: Sarah Plotkin
Puppet Builder and Puppetry Supervisor: Andrew Murdock
Sound Design by: Joshua Langman and C. Swan-Streepy
Movement Supervisor: Julia Corrigan

Electric Eye Ensemble creates original plays and theatrical events that explore the stories forgotten or unheard in American culture.   As a community, we identify narratives that represent an important change in American history, and explore them through a non-dominant perspective.  Our work is political, timely, and based in first hand accounts, seeking to create parallels with the modern American context.  It is highly theatrical, often rooted in movement, music, and puppetry. Original full length plays include Welcome to the Doll Den (The Tank / Dixon Place) and Home in Motion (WOW Cafe Theatre).  We also produce a once-a-month creation and creativity workshop called Artist Gym for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Made possible in part with funds from the Jim Henson Foundation.