Mesmerization, immobilization, a struggle with the gilded gravity of beauty. Heel (2023) was an epic feat in collaboration with artist @hannahslevy and her claw stilts. Hannah made custom solid steel stilts for myself and dancer @alizarussell for a live performance at @icaphiladelphia . I’ve always been in awe of hannah’s work so this was a dream opportunity. Over the year, as the sculptures were constructed, the movement and meditation always changed. The steel stilts were approx 25lbs. Typically a stilt is air light, so the body can move flowy and free. The claw stilts were solid, heavy, sharp. In my personal life, a private health situation popped (sorry im not TMI’ing for yall)- all a crushing mirroring of the weight borne down on my physical & emotional self. One lift of the limb, a full body crunch, even a flicker of my hand, was a balancing act, a threat to the whole form. The piece began to reflect my personal practices, a slow listening meditation in ode to survival. Transporting the steel pieces to rehearsals, a tedious care routine, often scratching my legs with the talons, exhausting myself in carry to find parking. The beauty of these objects pressed exhaustion on my bones. A constant flickering between obsession and repulsion. I am a bird bound to the concrete, enveloped in thin flesh, forced to uphold the illusion of this majestic poise and power that I waiver on, an entrapment of elegance. I’m so grateful for Aliza’s fluidity, dedication and trust and forever in awe to Hannah for her genius, work and the opportunity.
Studio photos by @curtiswallen 
Video footage @christopheramcd 
Special ty to @negraanegra @derekrigby @cole.akers @apkapkapk @hallierr for making this possible
Mesmerization, immobilization, a struggle with the gilded gravity of beauty. Heel (2023) was an epic feat in collaboration with artist @hannahslevy and her claw stilts. Hannah made custom solid steel stilts for myself and dancer @alizarussell for a live performance at @icaphiladelphia . I’ve always been in awe of hannah’s work so this was a dream opportunity. Over the year, as the sculptures were constructed, the movement and meditation always changed. The steel stilts were approx 25lbs. Typically a stilt is air light, so the body can move flowy and free. The claw stilts were solid, heavy, sharp. In my personal life, a private health situation popped (sorry im not TMI’ing for yall)- all a crushing mirroring of the weight borne down on my physical & emotional self. One lift of the limb, a full body crunch, even a flicker of my hand, was a balancing act, a threat to the whole form. The piece began to reflect my personal practices, a slow listening meditation in ode to survival. Transporting the steel pieces to rehearsals, a tedious care routine, often scratching my legs with the talons, exhausting myself in carry to find parking. The beauty of these objects pressed exhaustion on my bones. A constant flickering between obsession and repulsion. I am a bird bound to the concrete, enveloped in thin flesh, forced to uphold the illusion of this majestic poise and power that I waiver on, an entrapment of elegance. I’m so grateful for Aliza’s fluidity, dedication and trust and forever in awe to Hannah for her genius, work and the opportunity. Studio photos by @curtiswallen Video footage @christopheramcd Special ty to @negraanegra @derekrigby @cole.akers @apkapkapk @hallierr for making this possible
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