Take me to a Place in Space: A Photo Shoot with Abigail DeVille
Drawing inspiration from Michael Jackson's "Rock with You" and JLo's "Waiting for Tonight", that’s how I envisioned Abigail, like this urban ethereal being with laser lights emanating from her. Abigail offered to make a costume that would be worthy of this photographic vision and boy, did she nail it! Composed of glass, wood, mirror and tubing, she created this amazing head gear and leg covers, that were beautiful and dangerous at the same time. She was a futuristic fusion of Africa Bambaataa, Carmen Miranda and Nina Simone.
Abigail creates massive installations with crazy energy. Constructed from discarded objects, furniture and who knows what else, they feel other-worldly, like portals that can transport us into space, a place where everything converges, to use her words, into “black holes”. I have talked to Abigail on how I see tremendous parallels between her work and the beginning (and even still today) house music. The art of this Visual DJ, like her musical counter-part, effectively functions as a dynamic nomadic archival institution. These incredible mash ups in her work keep histories alive and at the same time present to us the future.
A big shout out goes to Edwin Ramoran for his help in organizing this photo shoot and a super big shout out goes to Rich King and Austin Downey for hosting this at their "Easy" Party at Westside Tavern. Check out these great out takes from The Pulsar.
