Cherdonna Shinatra: Clock That Construct

Cherdonna Shinatra: Clock That Construct
May 18 - 21, 2017
"Clock That Construct" is an immersive environment and a series of performances Seattle-based dance artist Jody Kuehner/Cherdonna Shinatra created during a month-long residency at the Henry during the Spring of 2017. Through her alter ego Cherdonna, Kuehner draws on traditions of feminist and queer performance using her body as a canvas to confront and confuse the social and cultural tropes that constitute the feminine. Within "Clock That Construct", Kuehner explores new expressive possibilities for Cherdonna and the imaginative potential of play to liberate and break restrictive gender codes and expectations. This documentation captures one of four public performances of "Clock That Construct" in its entirety from the view of one roaming camera.
"Clock That Construct" supports Cherdonna’s two-year, three-part project, "one great, bright, brittle alltogetherness," realized through a unique partnership between Seattle’s Velocity Dance Center and On the Boards, with generous support from the National Dance Project.* Part II, Clock that Mug or Dusted premiered at Velocity in 2016, and the culminating Part III, Kissing Like Babies premiered at On the Boards in October 2017.
"Clock That Construct" was organized by Luis Croquer, former Deputy Director of Exhibitions, Collections, and Programs, and Nina Bozicnik, Associate Curator, in collaboration with Tonya Lockyer, former Artistic + Executive Director of Velocity Dance Center.
Video documentation produced by Wanderhouse with cinematography by Ryan Schwalm
Choreography and performance: Jody Kuehner/Cherdonna Shinatra
Set design and construction: Jody Kuehner
Art direction and costume construction: Danial Hellman
Sound: DJ Riff-Raff
Production assistance: Sara Jinks
Artist's Acknowledgements:
Thank you to Henry Art Gallery and staff, Velocity Dance Center, and On the Boards. Thanks to Jackson Quall and Velocity for providing the sound and lighting equipment. Thank you also to Michaela, April, Julia, and Kim for their assistance.
*The National Dance Project is a program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.