Description

Horizon Line was inspired by Lawrence Weiner’s Placed Just Below Above the Horizon, a sculpture on display at the Phoenix Art Museum. The work, which consists of the titular text in vinyl lettering on a large expanse of wall, is an example of Weiner’s belief that verbal descriptions of an idea can result in the same audience experience as a conventional sculpture of that idea. In his notes on the work, Weiner poses the question: “Can language be sculpture?” He also introduces his theory on the three possible forms of any work of art, which I’ve excerpted in Horizon Line: “the artist can construct the piece,” “the piece may be made by someone else following the artist[‘s] instruction,” and “the piece can remain an idea.”

After spending time with Weiner’s sculpture, I found myself with more questions than answers, mostly about the anatomy of the work – where is “just below above the horizon”? What do horizons mean to people? Is there any one correct answer to the question of what a particular artwork means? I used these ambiguities to create a piece that is simultaneously playful and pensive, incorporating extended string techniques and spoken word to form a work that strives to accomplish what Weiner’s work does – leaving the audience with more questions than answers.

Run time: approx. 4′.

Horizon Line perusal

Watch the world premiere of Horizon Line, featuring Luke Hill, violin; Alex O’Boyle-Ince, violin; Joseph Bingham, viola; and Jennifer Hillen, cello:

Past performances:

• 4/1/2016: Emilio Vasquez, Adele Etheridge-Woodson, Chloe Calvino, and Stephen Mitton, Multifaceted, Recital Hall, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
• 4/23/2016: Luke Hill, Alex O’Boyle-Ince, Joseph Bingham, and Jennifer Hillen, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ (world premiere)