THE MENTALIST (2004) follows a woman into her imagination, one pattern at a time. Consumed by the repeating patterns of her surroundings, represented in graffiti writing and video animation, a woman goes slowly mad. Retreating into memory after memory, and finally re-appearing , larger-than-life, in video. The Mentalist is a movement installation that transforms an empty room on-site, covering the space with sound bites, video paintings, live graffiti writing, punk-rock ramblings, and breath-taking dancing. The creation of The Mentalist was inspired by imagery in Charlotte Perkins Gillman's short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper," in which a woman is taken over by her imagination, getting lost in the repeating pattern of her bedroom’s wallpaper. The Mentalist
premiered in an old machine shop in Old City Philadelphia.
“Full of fresh energy and strange pleasures.” - The Philadelphia Inquirer
Performed by (in various constellations): Alex Holmes, David Konyk, Dave O'Donnel, Megan Mazarick, Kate Watson-Wallace, Heather Murphy, Bethany Formica, Devynn Emory, Meg Foley, Olase Freeman, Carrie Powell, Aidiel Reckley, Shaun Walker
Movement created in collaboration with the performers.
Video design: Ricardo Rivera
Grafitto/ visual design: Carrie Powell
Spoken Word: Shaun Walker
Costumes: Linda Smyth
Hair Design: Tracey Olkus
Sound design and Composition: Daud Sturdivant
All photos of The Mentalist by Bill Hebert.
