Claire Porter Performance Story - October 2007

Artist creates poetry with muscles
By Jasmine Stein

Staff Reporter

Publication Date: 10/05/2007

Claire Porter's performance Thursday began from when the doors opened and a dramatic single spotlight illuminated the empty wooden chair placed in the middle of the stage.

At 7 p.m. a tiny woman with an enormous presence charged into the room and was immediately in character. Porter would remain in character, and take on about a dozen other personas until her last word was spoken.

She performed poetry from her new book, "Namely Muscles," which allowed her to use muscles to tell a story about humor, life, hope and sometimes nothing at all.

"It was really funny, it definitely kept my attention," said Kristina Katrus, a senior in the College of Liberal Arts.

The Dance Studio in Yue-Kong Pao Hall was filled to capacity and for an hour straight the only sound that left the room was repetitive laughter intertwined by constant chuckling.

Sally Wallace, a professor of visual and performance arts described Porter's art as "reality with a different twist."

Porter's word usage and pairing to ask questions about every aspect of life; she creates a vision for her audience through her movement.

"I thought I saw hope in a muscle once, I couldn't believe it either. At least not yet, one can only hope," Porter said.

When asked by an audience member why she chooses to pair poignant topics like hope and grace with laughter and humor, Porter responded with, "I'm sort of floating those things out there, where's the merciful muscle? There's no answer."

Every word Porter spoke had a different movement, a different gesture and a different personality. She frolicked across the stage gracefully, reciting off the names of the different muscles of the body.

"Go ahead sweep me off my feet, Soleus dear, go ahead," Porter said.

Wallace introduced Porter by sharing a story about her and a co-worker 15 years ago, dreaming of the day when they would have a performance and dance building at Purdue, and how one of their first performers would be Porter.

Wallace and her co-workers' dream came true last night, and Porter's performance was all about dreams and things falling into place.

"Where there's life, there's my muscle, and there all connected, you know. When one moves, they all have to adjust," Porter said.