{"id":108457,"date":"2012-04-24T15:02:56","date_gmt":"2012-04-24T19:02:56","guid":{"rendered":"\/gazette\/?p=108457"},"modified":"2019-07-22T11:41:53","modified_gmt":"2019-07-22T15:41:53","slug":"at-his-own-speed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/","title":{"rendered":"At his own speed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t
\"\"

Artist David Michalek (center) acknowledged that the slowness of the work is at first \u201ctough to watch,\u201d but that as it progresses it inspires viewers to \u201cinvestigate the parts\u201d of the installation through a type of \u201cself-guided exploration. Michalek was joined by Giuliana Bruno (left) and Jill Johnson during the discussion of "Slow Dancing," which is on view through April 29 in Harvard Yard.<\/p>

Photos by Stephanie Mitchell\/Harvard Staff Photographer<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tArts & Culture\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t

\n\t\tAt his own speed\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\tColleen Walsh\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tHarvard Staff Writer\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/address>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tArtist behind \u2018Slow Dancing\u2019 retraces path of inspiration\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\t\t

Those who take an evening stroll through Harvard\u2019s Tercentenary Theatre this week will likely encounter an ethereal projection on the fa\u00e7ade of Widener Library: a triptych of dancers who appear to be floating above the main entrance.<\/p>\n

\u201cSlow Dancing,\u201d<\/a> a spellbinding art installation using three large screens, is part of Harvard\u2019s annual arts celebration, Arts First<\/a>, and is the brainchild of artist David Michalek, who discussed his work Friday at Boylston Hall.<\/p>\n

To create the series of slow-motion video portraits, Michalek captured each subject\u2019s movement (approximately five seconds long) with a high-speed, high-definition camera recording at 1,000 frames per second (standard film captures 30 frames per second). The result is approximately 10 minutes of extreme slow motion. Since its premiere at New York City\u2019s Lincoln Center Festival in 2007, \u201cSlow Dancing\u201d has traveled to London, Paris, and, most recently, the Hague before arriving at Harvard this spring.<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t

\"\"
"Slow Dancing" at Lincoln Center (2007). Photo by Jennifer Taylor\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n

While the world has become increasingly obsessed with speed, said the discussion\u2019s moderator, Giuliana Bruno, Harvard professor of visual and environmental studies<\/a>, an \u201caesthetic of slowness\u201d has taken hold in recent years. She asked Michalek to comment on his choice of capturing the movements of dancers in super slow-motion.<\/p>\n

The artist said his piece was inspired in large part by Bill Viola\u2019s \u201cThe Greeting,\u201d a video work depicting an exchange between three women in extreme slow-motion. Michalek encountered the work at an exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art<\/a> in 1997.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a really amazing experience to see what otherwise looked like a photograph, but ever so slowly animated and given the element of time. And it was a revelation, and I thought, \u2018Someday I want to touch that myself.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Later, when he met his future wife, Wendy Whelan, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet<\/a>, he returned to the idea, inspired by her artistry and eager to capture her \u201cinvisible world\u201d of dance.<\/p>\n

Michalek acquired a high-speed camera, one marketed to golfers to help them analyze their swings, and started to experiment in his living room to capture an image that \u201cmoved at the pace of the clouds.\u201d<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t

\"\"
"Slow Dancing" was introduced into Harvard Yard on Friday. A discussion of the project marked its kickoff, with Harvard President Drew Faust making the opening remarks. Prior to the discussion, Jill Johnson (from left), David Michalek, Faust, Giuliana Bruno, and Jack Megan gathered in Boylston Hall.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n

Eventually, he found an engineering firm developing a digital camera that would allow him to show his subjects playback of their work, and to capture images at the correct speed with a \u201cfinely resolved image.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the product lacked a proper cooling system. Having promised the installation for the fast approaching Lincoln Center Festival, Michalek improvised.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just put icepacks on it,\u201d he said, \u201cand it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n

When he showed an early version of the piece to a group of children, he realized he was on to something.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese kids sat, their mouths opened \u2014 they were glued to the screen.\u201d<\/p>\n

That experience prompted ideas about how to present the work in a public space, he said, where he could offer viewers \u201ca contemplative environment in the midst of all of that speed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michalek acknowledged that the slowness of the work is at first \u201ctough to watch,\u201d but that as it progresses it inspires viewers to \u201cinvestigate the parts\u201d of the installation through a type of \u201cself-guided exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jill Johnson<\/a>, director of the Office for the Arts\u2019 Dance Program<\/a> and one of 45 dancers and choreographers enlisted by Michalek, also took part in the conversation. She called the process of trying to \u201cdistill what you hope to convey\u201d in the span of five seconds \u201cextraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s at once a great challenge, but also an opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The filming also had its lighter moments, said the dancer. She joked that a curled lip, almost imperceptible in real time, lasts an eternity during the slow-moving work.<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t

\"\"
A team of workers installed screens on the columns of Widener Library for the projections of "Slow Dancing."\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019d [tell yourself], \u2018OK, I\u2019ve got to keep track of that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Harvard President Drew Faust<\/a>, who opened the discussion, called the work a \u201cvisible reminder of our commitment to the arts, and to their continued advancement here at Harvard and well beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Slow Dancing\u2019 invites us to stop,\u201d Faust said, \u201cand it invites us to look very intensely and deeply.\u201d The work also transports viewers to the artist\u2019s world, she added, one consisting of \u201ca singular experience of time and space that prompts a shift in perception and understanding. A shift that is at the heart of all great art, and of all great learning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSlow Dancing\u201d will be on view nightly from 7 to 11 through April 29.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Artist David Michalek, creator of \u201cSlow Dancing,\u201d a temporary installation on the fa\u00e7ade of Widener Library, discussed the evolution of his work during a talk at Boylston Hall.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":105622744,"featured_media":108578,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"gz_ga_pageviews":0,"gz_ga_lastupdated":"","document_color_palette":"crimson","author":"Colleen Walsh","affiliation":"Harvard Staff Writer","_category_override":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1360],"tags":[2052,4867,10190,2383,14545,19293,21764,22042,25540,26130,26132,35355,35822],"gazette-formats":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-108457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-humanities","tag-slow-dancing","tag-arts-first","tag-david-michalek","tag-drew-faust","tag-giuliana-bruno","tag-jill-johnson","tag-lincoln-center-festival","tag-los-angeles-county-museum-of-art","tag-new-york-city-ballet","tag-office-for-the-arts","tag-office-for-the-arts-dance-program","tag-visual-and-environmental-studies","tag-widener-library"],"yoast_head":"\nAt his own speed — Harvard Gazette<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Artist David Michalek, creator of \u201cSlow Dancing,\u201d a temporary installation on the fa\u00e7ade of Widener Library, discussed the evolution of his work during a talk at Boylston Hall.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"At his own speed — Harvard Gazette\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Artist David Michalek, creator of \u201cSlow Dancing,\u201d a temporary installation on the fa\u00e7ade of Widener Library, discussed the evolution of his work during a talk at Boylston Hall.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Harvard Gazette\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2012-04-24T19:02:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2019-07-22T15:41:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"605\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"403\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"harvardgazette\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"harvardgazette\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#\/schema\/person\/78d028cf624923e92682268709ffbc4b\"},\"headline\":\"At his own speed\",\"datePublished\":\"2012-04-24T19:02:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-07-22T15:41:53+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/\"},\"wordCount\":879,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"\u201cSlow Dancing\\\"\",\"Arts First\",\"David Michalek\",\"Drew Faust\",\"Giuliana Bruno\",\"Jill Johnson\",\"Lincoln Center Festival\",\"Los Angeles County Museum of Art\",\"New York City Ballet\",\"Office for the Arts\",\"Office for the Arts Dance Program\",\"Visual and Environmental Studies\",\"Widener Library\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Arts & Culture\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"copyrightYear\":\"2012\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/\",\"name\":\"At his own speed — Harvard Gazette\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2012-04-24T19:02:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-07-22T15:41:53+00:00\",\"description\":\"Artist David Michalek, creator of \u201cSlow Dancing,\u201d a temporary installation on the fa\u00e7ade of Widener Library, discussed the evolution of his work during a talk at Boylston Hall.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg\",\"width\":605,\"height\":403},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/\",\"name\":\"Harvard Gazette\",\"description\":\"Official news from Harvard University covering innovation in teaching, learning, and research\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#organization\",\"name\":\"The Harvard Gazette\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Harvard_Gazette_logo.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Harvard_Gazette_logo.svg\",\"width\":164,\"height\":64,\"caption\":\"The Harvard Gazette\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#\/schema\/person\/78d028cf624923e92682268709ffbc4b\",\"name\":\"harvardgazette\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"At his own speed — Harvard Gazette","description":"Artist David Michalek, creator of \u201cSlow Dancing,\u201d a temporary installation on the fa\u00e7ade of Widener Library, discussed the evolution of his work during a talk at Boylston Hall.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"At his own speed — Harvard Gazette","og_description":"Artist David Michalek, creator of \u201cSlow Dancing,\u201d a temporary installation on the fa\u00e7ade of Widener Library, discussed the evolution of his work during a talk at Boylston Hall.","og_url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/","og_site_name":"Harvard Gazette","article_published_time":"2012-04-24T19:02:56+00:00","article_modified_time":"2019-07-22T15:41:53+00:00","og_image":[{"width":605,"height":403,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"harvardgazette","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/"},"author":{"name":"harvardgazette","@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#\/schema\/person\/78d028cf624923e92682268709ffbc4b"},"headline":"At his own speed","datePublished":"2012-04-24T19:02:56+00:00","dateModified":"2019-07-22T15:41:53+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/"},"wordCount":879,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg","keywords":["\u201cSlow Dancing\"","Arts First","David Michalek","Drew Faust","Giuliana Bruno","Jill Johnson","Lincoln Center Festival","Los Angeles County Museum of Art","New York City Ballet","Office for the Arts","Office for the Arts Dance Program","Visual and Environmental Studies","Widener Library"],"articleSection":["Arts & Culture"],"inLanguage":"en-US","copyrightYear":"2012","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/","name":"At his own speed — Harvard Gazette","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg","datePublished":"2012-04-24T19:02:56+00:00","dateModified":"2019-07-22T15:41:53+00:00","description":"Artist David Michalek, creator of \u201cSlow Dancing,\u201d a temporary installation on the fa\u00e7ade of Widener Library, discussed the evolution of his work during a talk at Boylston Hall.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg","width":605,"height":403},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#website","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/","name":"Harvard Gazette","description":"Official news from Harvard University covering innovation in teaching, learning, and research","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#organization","name":"The Harvard Gazette","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Harvard_Gazette_logo.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Harvard_Gazette_logo.svg","width":164,"height":64,"caption":"The Harvard Gazette"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#\/schema\/person\/78d028cf624923e92682268709ffbc4b","name":"harvardgazette"}]}},"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"At his own speed","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/at-his-own-speed\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg?w=150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg"},"articleSection":"Arts & Culture","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"harvardgazette"}],"creator":["harvardgazette"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Harvard Gazette","logo":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Harvard_Gazette_logo.svg"},"keywords":["\u201cslow dancing\"","arts first","david michalek","drew faust","giuliana bruno","jill johnson","lincoln center festival","los angeles county museum of art","new york city ballet","office for the arts","office for the arts dance program","visual and environmental studies","widener library"],"dateCreated":"2012-04-24T19:02:56Z","datePublished":"2012-04-24T19:02:56Z","dateModified":"2019-07-22T15:41:53Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"At his own speed\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/news.harvard.edu\\\/gazette\\\/story\\\/2012\\\/04\\\/at-his-own-speed\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/news.harvard.edu\\\/gazette\\\/story\\\/2012\\\/04\\\/at-his-own-speed\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/news.harvard.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2012\\\/04\\\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg?w=150\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/news.harvard.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2012\\\/04\\\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg\"},\"articleSection\":\"Arts & Culture\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"harvardgazette\"}],\"creator\":[\"harvardgazette\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Harvard Gazette\",\"logo\":\"https:\\\/\\\/news.harvard.edu\\\/gazette\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/12\\\/Harvard_Gazette_logo.svg\"},\"keywords\":[\"\\u201cslow dancing\\\"\",\"arts first\",\"david michalek\",\"drew faust\",\"giuliana bruno\",\"jill johnson\",\"lincoln center festival\",\"los angeles county museum of art\",\"new york city ballet\",\"office for the arts\",\"office for the arts dance program\",\"visual and environmental studies\",\"widener library\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2012-04-24T19:02:56Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2012-04-24T19:02:56Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-07-22T15:41:53Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/news.harvard.edu\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg","has_blocks":true,"block_data":{"0":{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/article-header","attrs":{"blockColorPalette":"","coloredHeading":"","creditText":"Photos by Stephanie Mitchell\/Harvard Staff Photographer","displayDetails":"","displayTitle":"","categoryId":1360,"mediaAlt":"","mediaCaption":"Artist David Michalek (center) acknowledged that the slowness of the work is at first \u201ctough to watch,\u201d but that as it progresses it inspires viewers to \u201cinvestigate the parts\u201d of the installation through a type of \u201cself-guided exploration. Michalek was joined by Giuliana Bruno (left) and Jill Johnson during the discussion of \"Slow Dancing,\" which is on view through April 29 in Harvard Yard.","mediaId":108578,"mediaSize":"full","mediaType":"image","mediaUrl":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg","poster":"","title":"At his own speed","subheading":"Artist behind \u2018Slow Dancing\u2019 retraces path of inspiration","centeredImage":true,"className":"is-style-full-width-text-below","mediaHeight":403,"mediaWidth":605,"backgroundFixed":false,"backgroundTone":"light","coloredBackground":false,"displayOverlay":true,"fadeInText":false,"isAmbient":false,"mediaLength":"","mediaPosition":"","posterText":"","titleAbove":false,"useUncroppedImage":false,"lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"403\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg\" width=\"605\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Artist David Michalek (center) acknowledged that the slowness of the work is at first \u201ctough to watch,\u201d but that as it progresses it inspires viewers to \u201cinvestigate the parts\u201d of the installation through a type of \u201cself-guided exploration. Michalek was joined by Giuliana Bruno (left) and Jill Johnson during the discussion of "Slow Dancing," which is on view through April 29 in Harvard Yard.<\/p><p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Photos by Stephanie Mitchell\/Harvard Staff Photographer<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"403\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg\" width=\"605\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Artist David Michalek (center) acknowledged that the slowness of the work is at first \u201ctough to watch,\u201d but that as it progresses it inspires viewers to \u201cinvestigate the parts\u201d of the installation through a type of \u201cself-guided exploration. Michalek was joined by Giuliana Bruno (left) and Jill Johnson during the discussion of "Slow Dancing," which is on view through April 29 in Harvard Yard.<\/p><p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Photos by Stephanie Mitchell\/Harvard Staff Photographer<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"<header\n\tclass=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-article-header alignfull article-header is-style-full-width-text-below centered-image\"\n\tstyle=\" \"\n>\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"403\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042012_slow_dancing_293_605.jpg\" width=\"605\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Artist David Michalek (center) acknowledged that the slowness of the work is at first \u201ctough to watch,\u201d but that as it progresses it inspires viewers to \u201cinvestigate the parts\u201d of the installation through a type of \u201cself-guided exploration. Michalek was joined by Giuliana Bruno (left) and Jill Johnson during the discussion of "Slow Dancing," which is on view through April 29 in Harvard Yard.<\/p><p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Photos by Stephanie Mitchell\/Harvard Staff Photographer<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t<div class=\"article-header__content\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"article-header__category\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/arts-humanities\/\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\tArts & Culture\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t<h1 class=\"article-header__title wp-block-heading \">\n\t\tAt his own speed\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"article-header__meta\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<address class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"author wp-block-post-author__name\">\n\t\tColleen Walsh\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-post-author__byline\">\n\t\t\tHarvard Staff Writer\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/address>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<time class=\"article-header__date\" datetime=\"2012-04-24\">\n\t\t\tApril 24, 2012\t\t<\/time>\n\n\t\t<span class=\"article-header__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t5 min read\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-header__subheading wp-block-heading\">\n\t\t\tArtist behind \u2018Slow Dancing\u2019 retraces path of inspiration\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/header>\n"},"2":{"blockName":"core\/group","attrs":{"templateLock":false,"metadata":{"name":"Article content"},"align":"wide","layout":{"type":"constrained","justifyContent":"center"},"tagName":"div","lock":[],"className":"","style":[],"backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","ariaLabel":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\t\t<p>Those who take an evening stroll through Harvard\u2019s Tercentenary Theatre this week will likely encounter an ethereal projection on the fa\u00e7ade of Widener Library: a triptych of dancers who appear to be floating above the main entrance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.slowdancingfilms.com\/\">\u201cSlow Dancing,\u201d<\/a> a spellbinding art installation using three large screens, is part of Harvard\u2019s annual arts celebration, <a href=\"http:\/\/ofa.fas.harvard.edu\/arts\/\">Arts First<\/a>, and is the brainchild of artist David Michalek, who discussed his work Friday at Boylston Hall.<\/p>\n<p>To create the series of slow-motion video portraits, Michalek captured each subject\u2019s movement (approximately five seconds long) with a high-speed, high-definition camera recording at 1,000 frames per second (standard film captures 30 frames per second). The result is approximately 10 minutes of extreme slow motion. Since its premiere at New York City\u2019s Lincoln Center Festival in 2007, \u201cSlow Dancing\u201d has traveled to London, Paris, and, most recently, the Hague before arriving at Harvard this spring.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n\t\t<p>Those who take an evening stroll through Harvard\u2019s Tercentenary Theatre this week will likely encounter an ethereal projection on the fa\u00e7ade of Widener Library: a triptych of dancers who appear to be floating above the main entrance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.slowdancingfilms.com\/\">\u201cSlow Dancing,\u201d<\/a> a spellbinding art installation using three large screens, is part of Harvard\u2019s annual arts celebration, <a href=\"http:\/\/ofa.fas.harvard.edu\/arts\/\">Arts First<\/a>, and is the brainchild of artist David Michalek, who discussed his work Friday at Boylston Hall.<\/p>\n<p>To create the series of slow-motion video portraits, Michalek captured each subject\u2019s movement (approximately five seconds long) with a high-speed, high-definition camera recording at 1,000 frames per second (standard film captures 30 frames per second). The result is approximately 10 minutes of extreme slow motion. Since its premiere at New York City\u2019s Lincoln Center Festival in 2007, \u201cSlow Dancing\u201d has traveled to London, Paris, and, most recently, the Hague before arriving at Harvard this spring.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n\t\t<p>Those who take an evening stroll through Harvard\u2019s Tercentenary Theatre this week will likely encounter an ethereal projection on the fa\u00e7ade of Widener Library: a triptych of dancers who appear to be floating above the main entrance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.slowdancingfilms.com\/\">\u201cSlow Dancing,\u201d<\/a> a spellbinding art installation using three large screens, is part of Harvard\u2019s annual arts celebration, <a href=\"http:\/\/ofa.fas.harvard.edu\/arts\/\">Arts First<\/a>, and is the brainchild of artist David Michalek, who discussed his work Friday at Boylston Hall.<\/p>\n<p>To create the series of slow-motion video portraits, Michalek captured each subject\u2019s movement (approximately five seconds long) with a high-speed, high-definition camera recording at 1,000 frames per second (standard film captures 30 frames per second). The result is approximately 10 minutes of extreme slow motion. Since its premiere at New York City\u2019s Lincoln Center Festival in 2007, \u201cSlow Dancing\u201d has traveled to London, Paris, and, most recently, the Hague before arriving at Harvard this spring.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"sizeSlug":"full","align":"none","id":108600,"caption":"\"Slow Dancing\" at Lincoln Center (2007). Photo by Jennifer Taylor","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/slowlincoln_500.jpg","alt":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkDestination":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":[],"borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/slowlincoln_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108600\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">"Slow Dancing" at Lincoln Center (2007). Photo by Jennifer Taylor\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t","innerContent":["\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/slowlincoln_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108600\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">"Slow Dancing" at Lincoln Center (2007). Photo by Jennifer Taylor\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"],"rendered":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/slowlincoln_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108600\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">"Slow Dancing" at Lincoln Center (2007). Photo by Jennifer Taylor\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"},{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>While the world has become increasingly obsessed with speed, said the discussion\u2019s moderator, Giuliana Bruno, Harvard professor of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ves.fas.harvard.edu\/\">visual and environmental studies<\/a>, an \u201caesthetic of slowness\u201d has taken hold in recent years. She asked Michalek to comment on his choice of capturing the movements of dancers in super slow-motion.<\/p>\n<p>The artist said his piece was inspired in large part by Bill Viola\u2019s \u201cThe Greeting,\u201d a video work depicting an exchange between three women in extreme slow-motion. Michalek encountered the work at an exhibit at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lacma.org\/\">Los Angeles County Museum of Art<\/a> in 1997.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a really amazing experience to see what otherwise looked like a photograph, but ever so slowly animated and given the element of time. And it was a revelation, and I thought, \u2018Someday I want to touch that myself.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Later, when he met his future wife, Wendy Whelan, a principal dancer with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nycballet.com\/nycb\/home\/\">New York City Ballet<\/a>, he returned to the idea, inspired by her artistry and eager to capture her \u201cinvisible world\u201d of dance.<\/p>\n<p>Michalek acquired a high-speed camera, one marketed to golfers to help them analyze their swings, and started to experiment in his living room to capture an image that \u201cmoved at the pace of the clouds.\u201d<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>While the world has become increasingly obsessed with speed, said the discussion\u2019s moderator, Giuliana Bruno, Harvard professor of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ves.fas.harvard.edu\/\">visual and environmental studies<\/a>, an \u201caesthetic of slowness\u201d has taken hold in recent years. She asked Michalek to comment on his choice of capturing the movements of dancers in super slow-motion.<\/p>\n<p>The artist said his piece was inspired in large part by Bill Viola\u2019s \u201cThe Greeting,\u201d a video work depicting an exchange between three women in extreme slow-motion. Michalek encountered the work at an exhibit at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lacma.org\/\">Los Angeles County Museum of Art<\/a> in 1997.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a really amazing experience to see what otherwise looked like a photograph, but ever so slowly animated and given the element of time. And it was a revelation, and I thought, \u2018Someday I want to touch that myself.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Later, when he met his future wife, Wendy Whelan, a principal dancer with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nycballet.com\/nycb\/home\/\">New York City Ballet<\/a>, he returned to the idea, inspired by her artistry and eager to capture her \u201cinvisible world\u201d of dance.<\/p>\n<p>Michalek acquired a high-speed camera, one marketed to golfers to help them analyze their swings, and started to experiment in his living room to capture an image that \u201cmoved at the pace of the clouds.\u201d<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n<p>While the world has become increasingly obsessed with speed, said the discussion\u2019s moderator, Giuliana Bruno, Harvard professor of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ves.fas.harvard.edu\/\">visual and environmental studies<\/a>, an \u201caesthetic of slowness\u201d has taken hold in recent years. She asked Michalek to comment on his choice of capturing the movements of dancers in super slow-motion.<\/p>\n<p>The artist said his piece was inspired in large part by Bill Viola\u2019s \u201cThe Greeting,\u201d a video work depicting an exchange between three women in extreme slow-motion. Michalek encountered the work at an exhibit at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lacma.org\/\">Los Angeles County Museum of Art<\/a> in 1997.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a really amazing experience to see what otherwise looked like a photograph, but ever so slowly animated and given the element of time. And it was a revelation, and I thought, \u2018Someday I want to touch that myself.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Later, when he met his future wife, Wendy Whelan, a principal dancer with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nycballet.com\/nycb\/home\/\">New York City Ballet<\/a>, he returned to the idea, inspired by her artistry and eager to capture her \u201cinvisible world\u201d of dance.<\/p>\n<p>Michalek acquired a high-speed camera, one marketed to golfers to help them analyze their swings, and started to experiment in his living room to capture an image that \u201cmoved at the pace of the clouds.\u201d<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"sizeSlug":"full","align":"none","id":108581,"caption":"\"Slow Dancing\" was introduced into Harvard Yard on Friday. A discussion of the project marked its kickoff, with Harvard President Drew Faust making the opening remarks. Prior to the discussion, Jill Johnson (from left), David Michalek, Faust, Giuliana Bruno, and Jack Megan gathered in Boylston Hall.","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/slow-dancing_500.jpg","alt":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkDestination":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":[],"borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/slow-dancing_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108581\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">"Slow Dancing" was introduced into Harvard Yard on Friday. A discussion of the project marked its kickoff, with Harvard President Drew Faust making the opening remarks. Prior to the discussion, Jill Johnson (from left), David Michalek, Faust, Giuliana Bruno, and Jack Megan gathered in Boylston Hall.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t","innerContent":["\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/slow-dancing_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108581\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">"Slow Dancing" was introduced into Harvard Yard on Friday. A discussion of the project marked its kickoff, with Harvard President Drew Faust making the opening remarks. Prior to the discussion, Jill Johnson (from left), David Michalek, Faust, Giuliana Bruno, and Jack Megan gathered in Boylston Hall.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"],"rendered":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/slow-dancing_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108581\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">"Slow Dancing" was introduced into Harvard Yard on Friday. A discussion of the project marked its kickoff, with Harvard President Drew Faust making the opening remarks. Prior to the discussion, Jill Johnson (from left), David Michalek, Faust, Giuliana Bruno, and Jack Megan gathered in Boylston Hall.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"},{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>Eventually, he found an engineering firm developing a digital camera that would allow him to show his subjects playback of their work, and to capture images at the correct speed with a \u201cfinely resolved image.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But the product lacked a proper cooling system. Having promised the installation for the fast approaching Lincoln Center Festival, Michalek improvised.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe just put icepacks on it,\u201d he said, \u201cand it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When he showed an early version of the piece to a group of children, he realized he was on to something.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese kids sat, their mouths opened \u2014 they were glued to the screen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That experience prompted ideas about how to present the work in a public space, he said, where he could offer viewers \u201ca contemplative environment in the midst of all of that speed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Michalek acknowledged that the slowness of the work is at first \u201ctough to watch,\u201d but that as it progresses it inspires viewers to \u201cinvestigate the parts\u201d of the installation through a type of \u201cself-guided exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"..\/story\/2011\/05\/jill-johnson-appointed-dance-director\/\">Jill Johnson<\/a>, director of the <a href=\"http:\/\/ofa.fas.harvard.edu\/dance\/\">Office for the Arts\u2019 Dance Program<\/a> and one of 45 dancers and choreographers enlisted by Michalek, also took part in the conversation. She called the process of trying to \u201cdistill what you hope to convey\u201d in the span of five seconds \u201cextraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s at once a great challenge, but also an opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The filming also had its lighter moments, said the dancer. She joked that a curled lip, almost imperceptible in real time, lasts an eternity during the slow-moving work.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>Eventually, he found an engineering firm developing a digital camera that would allow him to show his subjects playback of their work, and to capture images at the correct speed with a \u201cfinely resolved image.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But the product lacked a proper cooling system. Having promised the installation for the fast approaching Lincoln Center Festival, Michalek improvised.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe just put icepacks on it,\u201d he said, \u201cand it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When he showed an early version of the piece to a group of children, he realized he was on to something.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese kids sat, their mouths opened \u2014 they were glued to the screen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That experience prompted ideas about how to present the work in a public space, he said, where he could offer viewers \u201ca contemplative environment in the midst of all of that speed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Michalek acknowledged that the slowness of the work is at first \u201ctough to watch,\u201d but that as it progresses it inspires viewers to \u201cinvestigate the parts\u201d of the installation through a type of \u201cself-guided exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"..\/story\/2011\/05\/jill-johnson-appointed-dance-director\/\">Jill Johnson<\/a>, director of the <a href=\"http:\/\/ofa.fas.harvard.edu\/dance\/\">Office for the Arts\u2019 Dance Program<\/a> and one of 45 dancers and choreographers enlisted by Michalek, also took part in the conversation. She called the process of trying to \u201cdistill what you hope to convey\u201d in the span of five seconds \u201cextraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s at once a great challenge, but also an opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The filming also had its lighter moments, said the dancer. She joked that a curled lip, almost imperceptible in real time, lasts an eternity during the slow-moving work.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n<p>Eventually, he found an engineering firm developing a digital camera that would allow him to show his subjects playback of their work, and to capture images at the correct speed with a \u201cfinely resolved image.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But the product lacked a proper cooling system. Having promised the installation for the fast approaching Lincoln Center Festival, Michalek improvised.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe just put icepacks on it,\u201d he said, \u201cand it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When he showed an early version of the piece to a group of children, he realized he was on to something.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese kids sat, their mouths opened \u2014 they were glued to the screen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That experience prompted ideas about how to present the work in a public space, he said, where he could offer viewers \u201ca contemplative environment in the midst of all of that speed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Michalek acknowledged that the slowness of the work is at first \u201ctough to watch,\u201d but that as it progresses it inspires viewers to \u201cinvestigate the parts\u201d of the installation through a type of \u201cself-guided exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"..\/story\/2011\/05\/jill-johnson-appointed-dance-director\/\">Jill Johnson<\/a>, director of the <a href=\"http:\/\/ofa.fas.harvard.edu\/dance\/\">Office for the Arts\u2019 Dance Program<\/a> and one of 45 dancers and choreographers enlisted by Michalek, also took part in the conversation. She called the process of trying to \u201cdistill what you hope to convey\u201d in the span of five seconds \u201cextraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s at once a great challenge, but also an opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The filming also had its lighter moments, said the dancer. She joked that a curled lip, almost imperceptible in real time, lasts an eternity during the slow-moving work.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"sizeSlug":"full","align":"none","id":108579,"caption":"A team of workers installed screens on the columns of Widener Library for the projections of \"Slow Dancing.\"","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/041612_slow_dancing_512_500.jpg","alt":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkDestination":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":[],"borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/041612_slow_dancing_512_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108579\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A team of workers installed screens on the columns of Widener Library for the projections of "Slow Dancing."\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t","innerContent":["\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/041612_slow_dancing_512_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108579\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A team of workers installed screens on the columns of Widener Library for the projections of "Slow Dancing."\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"],"rendered":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/041612_slow_dancing_512_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108579\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A team of workers installed screens on the columns of Widener Library for the projections of "Slow Dancing."\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"},{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019d [tell yourself], \u2018OK, I\u2019ve got to keep track of that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Harvard President <a href=\"http:\/\/www.harvard.edu\/president\/\">Drew Faust<\/a>, who opened the discussion, called the work a \u201cvisible reminder of our commitment to the arts, and to their continued advancement here at Harvard and well beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2018Slow Dancing\u2019 invites us to stop,\u201d Faust said, \u201cand it invites us to look very intensely and deeply.\u201d The work also transports viewers to the artist\u2019s world, she added, one consisting of \u201ca singular experience of time and space that prompts a shift in perception and understanding. A shift that is at the heart of all great art, and of all great learning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSlow Dancing\u201d will be on view nightly from 7 to 11 through April 29.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019d [tell yourself], \u2018OK, I\u2019ve got to keep track of that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Harvard President <a href=\"http:\/\/www.harvard.edu\/president\/\">Drew Faust<\/a>, who opened the discussion, called the work a \u201cvisible reminder of our commitment to the arts, and to their continued advancement here at Harvard and well beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2018Slow Dancing\u2019 invites us to stop,\u201d Faust said, \u201cand it invites us to look very intensely and deeply.\u201d The work also transports viewers to the artist\u2019s world, she added, one consisting of \u201ca singular experience of time and space that prompts a shift in perception and understanding. A shift that is at the heart of all great art, and of all great learning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSlow Dancing\u201d will be on view nightly from 7 to 11 through April 29.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019d [tell yourself], \u2018OK, I\u2019ve got to keep track of that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Harvard President <a href=\"http:\/\/www.harvard.edu\/president\/\">Drew Faust<\/a>, who opened the discussion, called the work a \u201cvisible reminder of our commitment to the arts, and to their continued advancement here at Harvard and well beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2018Slow Dancing\u2019 invites us to stop,\u201d Faust said, \u201cand it invites us to look very intensely and deeply.\u201d The work also transports viewers to the artist\u2019s world, she added, one consisting of \u201ca singular experience of time and space that prompts a shift in perception and understanding. A shift that is at the heart of all great art, and of all great learning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSlow Dancing\u201d will be on view nightly from 7 to 11 through April 29.<\/p>\n"}],"innerHTML":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\">\n\n\r\n\t\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\n\t\r\n\n\n<\/div>\n","innerContent":["\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\">\n\n","\r\n\t","\n\t\r\n","\r\n\t","\n\t\r\n","\r\n\t","\n\t\r\n","\n\n<\/div>\n"],"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n\n\t\t<p>Those who take an evening stroll through Harvard\u2019s Tercentenary Theatre this week will likely encounter an ethereal projection on the fa\u00e7ade of Widener Library: a triptych of dancers who appear to be floating above the main entrance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.slowdancingfilms.com\/\">\u201cSlow Dancing,\u201d<\/a> a spellbinding art installation using three large screens, is part of Harvard\u2019s annual arts celebration, <a href=\"http:\/\/ofa.fas.harvard.edu\/arts\/\">Arts First<\/a>, and is the brainchild of artist David Michalek, who discussed his work Friday at Boylston Hall.<\/p>\n<p>To create the series of slow-motion video portraits, Michalek captured each subject\u2019s movement (approximately five seconds long) with a high-speed, high-definition camera recording at 1,000 frames per second (standard film captures 30 frames per second). The result is approximately 10 minutes of extreme slow motion. Since its premiere at New York City\u2019s Lincoln Center Festival in 2007, \u201cSlow Dancing\u201d has traveled to London, Paris, and, most recently, the Hague before arriving at Harvard this spring.<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/slowlincoln_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108600\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">"Slow Dancing" at Lincoln Center (2007). Photo by Jennifer Taylor\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n<p>While the world has become increasingly obsessed with speed, said the discussion\u2019s moderator, Giuliana Bruno, Harvard professor of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ves.fas.harvard.edu\/\">visual and environmental studies<\/a>, an \u201caesthetic of slowness\u201d has taken hold in recent years. She asked Michalek to comment on his choice of capturing the movements of dancers in super slow-motion.<\/p>\n<p>The artist said his piece was inspired in large part by Bill Viola\u2019s \u201cThe Greeting,\u201d a video work depicting an exchange between three women in extreme slow-motion. Michalek encountered the work at an exhibit at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lacma.org\/\">Los Angeles County Museum of Art<\/a> in 1997.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a really amazing experience to see what otherwise looked like a photograph, but ever so slowly animated and given the element of time. And it was a revelation, and I thought, \u2018Someday I want to touch that myself.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Later, when he met his future wife, Wendy Whelan, a principal dancer with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nycballet.com\/nycb\/home\/\">New York City Ballet<\/a>, he returned to the idea, inspired by her artistry and eager to capture her \u201cinvisible world\u201d of dance.<\/p>\n<p>Michalek acquired a high-speed camera, one marketed to golfers to help them analyze their swings, and started to experiment in his living room to capture an image that \u201cmoved at the pace of the clouds.\u201d<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/slow-dancing_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108581\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">"Slow Dancing" was introduced into Harvard Yard on Friday. A discussion of the project marked its kickoff, with Harvard President Drew Faust making the opening remarks. Prior to the discussion, Jill Johnson (from left), David Michalek, Faust, Giuliana Bruno, and Jack Megan gathered in Boylston Hall.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n<p>Eventually, he found an engineering firm developing a digital camera that would allow him to show his subjects playback of their work, and to capture images at the correct speed with a \u201cfinely resolved image.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But the product lacked a proper cooling system. Having promised the installation for the fast approaching Lincoln Center Festival, Michalek improvised.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe just put icepacks on it,\u201d he said, \u201cand it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When he showed an early version of the piece to a group of children, he realized he was on to something.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese kids sat, their mouths opened \u2014 they were glued to the screen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That experience prompted ideas about how to present the work in a public space, he said, where he could offer viewers \u201ca contemplative environment in the midst of all of that speed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Michalek acknowledged that the slowness of the work is at first \u201ctough to watch,\u201d but that as it progresses it inspires viewers to \u201cinvestigate the parts\u201d of the installation through a type of \u201cself-guided exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"..\/story\/2011\/05\/jill-johnson-appointed-dance-director\/\">Jill Johnson<\/a>, director of the <a href=\"http:\/\/ofa.fas.harvard.edu\/dance\/\">Office for the Arts\u2019 Dance Program<\/a> and one of 45 dancers and choreographers enlisted by Michalek, also took part in the conversation. She called the process of trying to \u201cdistill what you hope to convey\u201d in the span of five seconds \u201cextraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s at once a great challenge, but also an opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The filming also had its lighter moments, said the dancer. She joked that a curled lip, almost imperceptible in real time, lasts an eternity during the slow-moving work.<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/041612_slow_dancing_512_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108579\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A team of workers installed screens on the columns of Widener Library for the projections of "Slow Dancing."\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019d [tell yourself], \u2018OK, I\u2019ve got to keep track of that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Harvard President <a href=\"http:\/\/www.harvard.edu\/president\/\">Drew Faust<\/a>, who opened the discussion, called the work a \u201cvisible reminder of our commitment to the arts, and to their continued advancement here at Harvard and well beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2018Slow Dancing\u2019 invites us to stop,\u201d Faust said, \u201cand it invites us to look very intensely and deeply.\u201d The work also transports viewers to the artist\u2019s world, she added, one consisting of \u201ca singular experience of time and space that prompts a shift in perception and understanding. A shift that is at the heart of all great art, and of all great learning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSlow Dancing\u201d will be on view nightly from 7 to 11 through April 29.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n"}},"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":107744,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/tripping-the-arts-fantastic\/","url_meta":{"origin":108457,"position":0},"title":"Tripping the arts fantastic","author":"harvardgazette","date":"April 19, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Harvard\u2019s Arts First festival is celebrating its 20th year with poetry, performance, and a stunning public art display.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts & Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts & Culture","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/arts-humanities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/041212_dance_129_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/041212_dance_129_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/041212_dance_129_605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":109077,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/05\/embracing-the-arts\/","url_meta":{"origin":108457,"position":1},"title":"Embracing the arts","author":"harvardgazette","date":"May 1, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The 20th anniversary of Harvard\u2019s Arts First festival, presented by the Office for the Arts at Harvard and the Office of Governing Boards, featured 100 music, dance, theater, and multimedia events in a dozen venues.","rel":"","context":"In "Campus & Community"","block_context":{"text":"Campus & Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/042812_artsfirst_197_500.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":175925,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2015\/11\/an-important-piece-of-the-pie\/","url_meta":{"origin":108457,"position":2},"title":"\u2018An important piece of the pie\u2019","author":"harvardgazette","date":"November 5, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Harvard\u2019s Widener Library welcomed more than 500 staff members from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences for a fall celebration featuring conversation and pie.","rel":"","context":"In "Campus & Community"","block_context":{"text":"Campus & Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/crowd_pie_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/crowd_pie_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/crowd_pie_605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":106952,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/the-widener-memorial-room\/","url_meta":{"origin":108457,"position":3},"title":"The Widener Memorial Room","author":"harvardgazette","date":"April 5, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Room houses about 3,300 volumes from the book collection of its namesake, a 1907 Harvard graduate who died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic a century ago. His books include first editions by Charles Dickens, Robert Lewis Stevenson, and Charlotte Bronte. There are also\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Arts & Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts & Culture","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/arts-humanities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":169082,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2015\/04\/celebrating-widener\/","url_meta":{"origin":108457,"position":4},"title":"Celebrating Widener","author":"harvardgazette","date":"April 17, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Two lectures launched a yearlong celebration of Widener Library, which turns 100 this June.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts & Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts & Culture","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/arts-humanities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/widener_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/widener_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/widener_605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":106291,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/04\/as-result-of-titanics-sinking-widener-library-rose\/","url_meta":{"origin":108457,"position":5},"title":"Widener Library rises from Titanic tragedy","author":"harvardgazette","date":"April 5, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The ship disaster a century ago led to the drowning of three men affiliated with Harvard. It also prompted a memorial gift that quickly led to construction of the University\u2019s flagship book repository.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts & Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts & Culture","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/arts-humanities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/elkins_yearbook_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/elkins_yearbook_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/elkins_yearbook_605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/105622744"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108457"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108457\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":281677,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108457\/revisions\/281677"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108457"},{"taxonomy":"format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/gazette-formats?post=108457"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=108457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}