[ISEA98] Keynote: Nancy Reilly-McVittie – Presence of Absence (A-gain): Kathy Acker

Abstract

The Presence of Absence (A-Gain) Orchestrates a discourse through the use of multi media which explores the untimely death of punk/cyber writer extraordinaire Kathy Acker. Kathy Acker died prematurely from breast cancer. The presentation will explore the relationship between the notion of technological advances and horrific late 20th century female disease. The materials will include, Acker’s writing, testimonials, medical information, technological information, visual material and sound. The interrogation of the materials will take the form of an interactive performance game. The chair will establish a structural game which allows the members to contribute their materials through a process of association with other materials being presented. The idea of the game structure allows for a low grade performative element to ignite random insights from an association of materials. The structure of the presentation will be used to form a sister version which explores the sparks between the Hallucengenic Revolution and the Computer Revolution. (The related presentation took place at ISEA98Revolution, Liverpool).

  • Nancy Reilly-McVittie, US/UK. Currently pursuing PhD via a critical investigation of the interface of Contemporary Performance Writing and Technology, Nancy Reilly-McVittie is an American interdisciplinary artist and full-time senior lecturer on the Creative Arts course at Manchester Metropolitan University. She spent the 1980s in the New York contemporary performance scene. As a performer/devisor she worked with Richard Schechner, Richard Foreman and Mabou Mines (as a founding member of Re Cher Chez Studios). Her most significant collaborations were with Wooster Group, a ground-breaking experimental theatre group. She was a full time associate for eight years and developed six major works with the company. As a performance/creative writer she has nine publications to her credit. While in New York, Ms. Reilly McVittie had a long term working association with Hospital Audiences Incorporated. She worked with special needs groups in the community. She was selected with three other artists to present a formal production of her work with the homeless on the Bowery, “Dreaming in the Sunshine”.