"In the Waiting Room" performances at USF CAM

Ellen Mueller performs as one of the characters from "Book of Enid" reading "Book of Enid" in "The Waiting Room."
Characters may be subject to change at each performance.

Free Admission.
Facebook Event
Estimated running time: 20-30 Minutes.

Friday, April 8, Noon
Friday, April 15, Noon

USF Contemporary Art Museum
3821 Holly Drive
Tampa, FL

More Videos for The System

As I mentioned before, I'm catching up on archiving some of the video footage from this past semester. Here we have "How The System Works" along with shots of the endorsers (1, 2, 3). All of these videos were used during the live infomercial performance, "Complete With Illustrated Manual"

How The System Works from Ellen Mueller on Vimeo.

Ellen Update - Summer Edition

So I just wrapped up my first year of grad school, and am loving the free time to finally take full advantage of the beach! This semester has been a hectic one (when isn't it?) full of exhibitions and performances (and more and more and more).

This summer is going to be busy, but very fun:

- Today I start an art history course entitled, "Against Interpretation," which should be a good time ;)

- Then, June 16 - July 17 I'll head out to Dell'Arte International in Blue Lake CA for a month of performance workshops, for which I cannot wait! I'm hoping it will stir up some inspiration for the grant performance I have to conjure by next October.

- I'll also be swinging by Minneapolis for a visit August 4-9, so I'll be very excited to catch some MN Fringe Festival shows and see my dentist (I had no idea it would be so hard to find a good dentist in FL)!

- And before you know it, school starts Aug 24 (I'll be teaching my own section of Beginning Drawing - awesome!).

That's about all the news from Tampa for now...

evaluTEC Day 2 Video

This video is from my recent project entitled, "evaluTEC".

evaluTEC Day 2 from Ellen Mueller on Vimeo.

I have also posted a video from Day 1 for comparison. Day 2 was much slower than Day 1, but I had some great connections with strangers because I was just sitting next to the road, rather than sitting on campus.

A snippet from my evaluTEC artist statement can before on my Day 1 post.

evaluTEC Day 1 Video

So the semester is winding to a close and I'm finally able to catch up on some important documentation work from my projects from my first year here at USF.
This video is from my recent project entitled, "evaluTEC".


evaluTEC Day 1 from Ellen Mueller on Vimeo.

Here's a snippet from my evaluTEC artist statement for those that might be interested:

With the evaluTEC project, I address the shared experiences of evaluation and success. Through the use of live interactions and the evaluTEC.com website, I examine how we quantify, measure, and compare ourselves. The project brings to focus an absurd and dehumanizing quality, which arises when applying an objective evaluation to the subjective idea of human success.

The idea of human success is one riddled with subconscious fears and insecurity, in part due to its subjective and unquantifiable nature. Because most humans have had the experience of striving for an intangible sense of success, and suffered being evaluated along the way, an empathy can easily be generated by sharing the these experiences with others. By cultivating this empathy, a sense of connection and community is instantly created. Within a continuously more isolated world, these moments of connection are valuable in altering mindsets and cultivating critical thought.

Three Mouth-Light Arrays to Counter Frightful Darkness

Check out my latest art project!
It is titled, "Three Mouth-Light Arrays to Counter Frightful Darkness."
It is a kit including an illustrated, glow-in-the-dark field guide and three mouth-lights.

The field guide illustrates how participants can complete three performances, or light arrays, which respond with playfulness to the fear normally associated with darkness. The images shown here document myself and some of my cohorts completing the performances. More images are available in this online album.

The experience is to be performed on a street corner or road-side. The three light arrays involve three performers with lights in their mouths, moving through choreographed formations detailed in this field guide. A fourth participant may act as a director and documentarian.

The piece is available online at my Etsy shop. Enjoy!

EvaluTEC Performances coming up

Don't miss "Evalutec in Tampa," my upcoming performance this weekend.

Friday, 3 April 2009 | 12-2pm
On the grass between USF Tampa Campus Fine Arts (FAH) building
and the Contemporary Arts Museum
Saturday, 4 April 2009 | 2-4pm
On the bike path between Amberly Dr. and Gillian's Way,
parallel to Bruce B Downs Blvd

Look for the “FREE EVALUATIONS” sign!
EvaluTEC: Self-knowledge for a Brighter Tomorrow
www.EvaluTEC.com

Postcard image for BREAKDOWN, and a great studio visit

My next performance will be on Friday, January 30, 2009 at 8pm at the William and Nancy Oliver Gallery as a part of BREAKDOWN: A Mental Incursion.

I'll be premiering a character I've been developing the past few months, Valerie Hartman. She'll be giving a brief intro to The System, and explaining why you should attend the infomercial on February 17 at 8pm.

In other news, I had a really great studio visit with Diana Al Hadid yesterday, and was pleased to have a mini-epiphany about the arc of the narrative for my upcoming piece, "Complete With Illustrated Manual," which features the above mentioned Valerie Hartman. To read more about Diana Al Hadid, you can find a lot through Google, or check out her recent article in the January 2009 issue of Art News, where she was listed as an "Artist to Watch." (sadly, Art News hasn't put this article online)

BREAKDOWN: A Mental Incursion

My next performance will be on Friday, January 30, 2009 at 8pm at the William and Nancy Oliver Gallery as a part of BREAKDOWN: A Mental Incursion.

I'll be premiering a character I've been developing the past few months, Valerie Hartman. She'll be giving a brief intro to The System, and why you should attend the infomercial on February 17 at 8pm.



BREAKDOWN is:
Private acts and thoughts expressed in public spaces.
"Madness" and "vulgar" emotion; i.e., unrestrained grief.
Anthropomorphism.
A celebration of unseen/ignored elements of humanity.
A confrontation of human (un)consciousness.
Social awkwardness.
Insidious laughter.

LIVE PERFORMANCE:
Friday, January 30, 2009 at 8pm.

Confirmed guest artists include:
Natasha Marin (Butoh) + Aaron Roth (flute)
Anastacia Tolbert (indigo madness)
Ellen Mueller (Valerie Hartman/Time travel with The System)
Ashaki M. Jackson (Cannibalistic poetry/Altar-making)
Becky Flanders - (Ana Suromai - Female Genital Revelation)
Khadijah Queen (Fearful Beloved) + Zak Hemsteger (drums)
More TBA...

BREAKDOWN is organized by Khadijah Queen.
Multidisciplinary artist and writer Khadijah Queen is a graduate fellow in studio art at University of South Florida. Her first book of poetry, Conduit, was published in 2008 by Akashic Books. She has performed and exhibited nationally, and curates an annual multi-genre performance series, "Courting Risk," in NYC.

Open Auditions for Spring Workshops

OPEN AUDITIONS:
Ellen Mueller is seeking physical and improvisational performers of all types for two free collaborative workshops exploring the concepts of success and evaluation.


About the Workshops and Ellen Mueller:
These two free workshops will be led by Ellen Mueller at the University of South Florida Marshall Student Center, February 28 & March 1, Noon – 4:00pm, and April 4 & 5, Noon - 4:00pm. The approach for these workshops is based on techniques gleaned from yoga, the Brave New Institute – an improvisation training center in Minneapolis, MN, the Theatre of the Emerging American Moment – a theatre company dedicated to dissecting and celebrating the experience of living in America today, and Viewpoints – a technique for building ensembles and creating movement. Specifically, we will explore our collective response to the concepts of success and evaluation. Our goal is to gather and develop images, ideas, questions, situations, and characters through the practice of movement and improvisational exercises. Participants can expect to learn about the Eight Secrets of BNW Creativity, as well as an approach to collaborative creation. The material collected will be used as research for new performance works, and may lead to future collaborations with workshop participants.

Ellen Mueller was raised in Fargo, ND and currently lives and works in Tampa, FL. She received a BA in Theatre and Art, and a BS in Design Technology from Bemidji State University. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Studio Art with emphasis on performance at University of South Florida. For more information about recent projects, please visit EllenMueller.com


Audition Details:
Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 7pm – 9pm

University of South Florida
Fine Arts/FAH Room 280
4202 E. Fowler Avenue
Tampa, FL 33620


Instructions:
Wear clothing appropriate for movement. Please bring a headshot, or a snapshot that clearly displays your face. No prepared material is necessary. The audition will consist of movement and improvisation exercises, and may be conducted individually or in groups as the schedule allows. If you have any special talents, musical skills, etc, please be prepared to share them. You will be asked to indicate which of the two workshop dates you are available for, or if you are available for both. To reserve an audition slot, please email Ellen at emmuelle@mail.usf.edu with your availability between 7-9pm on January 6, 2009. If you are interested in the project, but are unavailable on this audition date/time, please feel free to contact Ellen to make alternative arrangements.

The System - Coming February 2009 - Commercial 3

I am pleased to share this third of three videos promoting my new body of art work. The System is a time travel console and instruction manual, to be promoted by my new character, Valerie Hartman. In February 2009, I will be presenting an installation and performance piece where Valerie promotes The System as a means of regaining control in one's life. Stay tuned!

The System - Coming February 2009 - Commercial 2

I am pleased to share this second of three videos promoting my new body of art work. The System is a time travel console and instruction manual, to be promoted by my new character, Valerie Hartman. In February 2009, I will be presenting an installation and performance piece where Valerie promotes The System as a means of regaining control in one's life. Stay tuned!

The System - Coming February 2009

I am pleased to share this first of three videos promoting my new body of art work. The System is a time travel console and instruction manual, to be promoted by my new character, Valerie Hartman. In February 2009, I will be presenting an installation and performance piece where Valerie promotes The System as a means of regaining control in one's life. Stay tuned!

New work is coming along...

I've been working on some new pieces that will functions as props in an upcoming performance. They are still pretty abstract here, but I thought I'd throw up some photos just to show some progress. They are time travel devices that will eventually constitute a whole system/console for this character who is fanatically consumed by controlling and moving through time.

I was on TV! (briefly)

Check it out! I was on TV briefly because I participated in Pedro Reyes' installation/performance piece at the USF Contemporary Art Museum.



It's a quick shot of me smashing a faux-guitar, and it happens about a minute and 20 seconds into the clip. If any of you know Phil McCollam, you'll see him in the piece as well!

Video posted from Artery24

If you were unable to make it to Artery24 at The Soap Factory back in July, you can now check out a video section of my performance, Control and Death 2008, on my website.  The full performance was close to a half hour long, this section is only about 6 minutes long.

New Gallery on EllenMueller.com

Take a moment to check out the new gallery at EllenMueller.com
Control and Death 2008
These images are from the Artery24 performance festival that occurred July 5, 2008. I performed a 30 minute piece entitled, "Control and Death 2008," where I portrayed several characters simultaneously with the help of some crafty video projection. Soon I will post the video from the event.

Artery 24 at The Soap Factory

DATES: JULY 5th at Noon - 6th at Noon, 2008
I will be performing at 5pm on July 5th.

I will be participating in Artery 24 at The Soap Factory.

Artery 24 is a new fine art performance event with a twist; the curators sought out participants who are not exclusively performance artists. The event is a non-religious appropriation of a 16th Century catholic ritual performed by visual artists such as Caravaggio and Prospero Orsi.

The principle of the event is: for each hour of a 24hr period, they feature a different artist/dancer/musician/comedian/actor or collaboration, with each participant executing an original fine art performance creation. Curators accepted proposals from artists, of all persuasions, working in any media.

Specific info on my performance:
The piece entitled, "Control & Death 2008: Time Travel & Consequences" is a dramatic performance exploring repetition and parallel universes. Control & Death features several characters who will share their thoughts and experiences with time travel. The work has a tone of paranoia, hinting at the insularity of shared conspiracy theories and experiences exclusive to small groups of believers. The work focuses upon imaginative description and demonstration of artist-constructed theories.