#27: Delia Gonzalez and Black Leotard Front

The inspiration for Delia Gonzalez recent film In Rememberance is drawn from a passage by Henry Miller, excerpted in the diary of Anaïs Nin. Anaïs describes an afternoon with Henry Miller and proceeds to quote a passage of his writing at length: a first-person narrative detailing, a poetic process of revelation. The development of the film can be roughly broken down into two parts, the first part being a vivid description of Oberon’s black wings, the second, passing through an enlightened stage of second-childhood, employs the imagery of a black spring. The title is drawn from a line in the passage: “In remembrance of the life of a child who was strangled and stifled by the mutual consent of those who had surrendered.

One of the things that interests Delia Gonzalez about Henry Miller’s writing is how he can write the crudest things, and yet surprise the reader with some of the most insightful writing.

The story of the ballet in this work is a loose interpretation of the narrative arch of this passage. In part I (Oberon), the dancers in a black space, are dissolved into the mirror, and as they pass in front of each other the black costume of one obscures the other. The constant interplay between them doubling themselves, then each other in turn, is a reference to the Oberon figure. The second part involves a similar situation as the dancers move into and out of a red light flare as if moving into and out of two worlds. As the dancers leave the red light, they enter what seems to be more “true” or “authentic” lighting. This, combined with the occasional cut away to a fantastical setting, introduces the theme of the interference of reality.

Delia Gonzalez presents her film
In Rememberance, 2010/2011 (4 parts)

and Black Leotard Front (Gavin Russom, Delia Gonzalez, Christian Holstad, Daniel Schmidt)
Come On, 2003
Motorcycle, 2004
Crystal Swans, 2004

 

Delia Gonzalez (b. 1970 in Miami, USA) currently lives in Berlin. In the mid-1990s she transplanted from Miami to New York City, working in various dance and guerrilla theatre troupes. It was around this time that she met synth wizard Gavin Russom, beginning a series of multi-disciplinary collaborations. Their first release for the label, 2003’s El Monte, was an early demonstration of the fledgling label’s ability to bridge the gap between the avant-garde and the rapidly exploding indie rock world. They have recorded music under various names, including Fight Evil With Evil and Black Leotard Front, as well as under their own names, for DFA Records, mostly using analog synthesizers. Their track “Relevee” was remixed by Baby Ford and Carl Craig.

Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom’s web site: www.deliaandgavin.com
DFA Records: Delia Gonzalez – In Rememberance