Tweezer Burn

(2020)

Inspired by the scientific-artistic discipline of visual art conservation, Tweezer Burn asked, “what should we take with us and what should we leave behind? Where do we store the crumbs? What are we faking and how can we fake it even harder?” While looking at the decade ahead with excitement, dread, and possibility, the performers introduced the audience to a strange array of hand tools and dissected, combined, and remixed visual art donated by local artists.

Read Rob Dunkelberger’s (The Stages of MN) review here.

Premiered February 2020

Presented at Du Nord Craft Spirits, Minneapolis, MN

Created and directed by Eric Larson
Created with and featuring Neva Dalager, Leif Hove, Jo Kellen
Lighting by Valerie Oliveiro
Set by Max Hoaglund
Costumes by Eric Larson
Produced by Eben Kowler
Art donations managed by Zoe Cinel
Advisory Committee: Lisa Channer, Samantha Johns, Meena Mangalvedhekar, Talvin Wilks
Promotional photography by Valerie Oliveiro
Fiscally sponsored by Skewed Visions

Act 2 visual art created and donated by Preston Drum, Nancy Julia Hicks, Hallie Bahn, Emma Beatrez, Brian Hart, Shirin Ghoraishi, Heather Lamanno, Lee Noble, Nora Speakerman, Zoe Cinel, Jamie Kubat, Max Hoaglund, and Heather McKenzie.

Work-in-progress showings of Tweezer Burn were presented at Fresh Oysters Performance Research and Good Night at the Southern Theater.

This activity was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

A performer wearing a navy polo and khakis is holding a long, extendable metal rod with a plastic ring at the end. They are extending the rod into the audience. Behind them, another performer watches while sitting on a raised stage platform.
A performer wearing a green vintage dress, golden butterfly belt, and white vintage hat, looks at a raised platform full of discarded visual art, strange plastic hand tools, and a large wooden and metal contraption.
A performer wearing a paisley shirt and checkered jacket reaches over a wooden contraptions to touch a damaged pink painting with a metal gardening tool. The lights are off except for small work lamps.
Three performers stand on a raised platform, gesturing and acting with each other. They all wear hyper-theatrical costumes, stylized versions of Peter Pan, Little Red Riding Hood, and a Princess. They are all holding or wearing blue disposable rubber
A performer in a navy polo and khakis is standing on a raised platform, setting up a workspace. She holds wooden frames and they are attaching them to a larger wooden structure. The platform is covered in white paper, and there are tools and lamps sc
Three performers in vintage clothing are working on a raised platform. On the platform are tools, damaged visual art, and metal and wooden contraptions. Two performers stand on the floor and one stands on the platform working on a large pink painting

Photo credits: Zoe Cinel