About

Background

Quite a lot happened leading up to my internship with Michael Dillon: the Ucross-Pollination Project, the Bee Project, and the Wyoming Composer’s Festival.

 

Ucross-Pollination Project

For three years, my composition professor, Anne Guzzo, and Michael Dillon have attended a residency in Ucross, Wyoming. The Ucross-Pollination Project includes four scientists and four artists, collaborating and creating works that are based equally in art and science. These collaborations aim to find deeper understanding of the natural world and to strengthen the relationship between science and art. Although Dr. Guzzo and Dr. Dillon were never directly paired together, through the nature of their residency, they still got to know each other and work together.

Michael Dillon did work with dancer/choreographer, Rachel Shaw. The two used Laban Movement Analysis to study bee behavior and the difference between the movements of healthy bees verses that movement of sick bees being affected by crop dusting. This collaboration led to the genesis of the Bee Project.

 

Bee Project

In Spring, 2016, Cecelia Aragon got a group of acting students together, and they collaborated with Michael Dillon and Rachel Shaw to create a dance that depicted their research. The class toured in Hawaii, working groups of all ages to spread bee awareness. The group needed a composer/performer, and that is where I come in. This opportunity introduced me to Rachel Shaw, Cecelia Aragon, Michael Dillon, Laban Movement Analysis, composition collaboration, many inspirational people and even music improvisation!

 

Wyoming Composer’s Festival

Fast forward a few months to August 2016 – the first ever Wyoming Composer’s Festivals, held in the Grand Teton National Forest near Jackson, Wyoming at the AMK Ranch. Michael Dillon works at the AMK ranch, so I had the chance to spend more time with him (including borrowing goggles from his family to search for Scott’s glasses in the lake… we found them!) At this time, one of the classes that I registered for was cancelled, so I needed more credits. Michael offered an internship to me, and I gladly accepted! This is also where I met Ali Grossman, and was offered an internship with her as well!

 

Here and Now

My goal in this internship is to create something that is equal science and art, just like my professors have done. The purpose of this blog is to document each step of the way!