Continuous Conditioning Performance + Machine, 2018

Documented live performance (49: developed during a residency at a living history museum in Western Pennsylvania. I emptied all the functioning (13 of 15) dehumidifiers on site since they had last been emptied less than 24 hours earlier. Dressed as a historic re-enactor, I carried 28.5 gallons of water across the historic site during public hours. The performance was developed during a after conversation and research with site staff and curator. A video of the performance was installed as a component of the sculpture Continuous Conditioning Machine.

In the sculpture, water from the museum’s dehumidifiers is pumped into the gallery using humidifiers, recollected with a dehumidifier, and used to water historic plants and power an old-timey LED candle from the museum's gift shop. Includes 28.5 gallons of water from all of the functioning (13 of 15) dehumidifiers on site, dehumidifier, three humidifiers, 19th-century style bucket made by coopering demonstrator Bob Huber, Harmonist-made bricks found outside the boundary of the historic site, plants and cuttings on loan from the museum’s speculative historic garden recreation, LED flameless candle, candle holder from museum gift shop, fountain pump, water turbine generator, and plant watering drip system. Includes a two-channel video installation: Continuous Conditioning Performance (49:06) and Cleaning Harmony (5:53).