Oregon Department of Kick Ass

Medusa Smack

2012 - 2 channel video installation, spandex, fiberglass, steel, fake fur, canvas, carpet

Medusa Smack
Medusa Smack
Medusa Smack
Good people laying within the Medusa Smack
Pacific Sea Nettles
blissed out in the Medusa Smack
papa and baby in the Smack
A sketch for the screen
Vanessa looking at the baby jelly fish at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

"What we see before us is just one tiny part of the world.  We get into the habit of thinking, this is the world, but that's not true at all.  The real world is a much darker and deeper place than this, and much of it is occupied by jellyfish and things". 
Haruki Murakami


Medusa Smack- a video installation by Vanessa Renwick
with a score composed and performed by Tara Jane ONeil
The score was partially comprised with sounds recorded by Harry Bertoia on his own Sonambient sound sculptures, as well as a recording Tara made of Athanasius Kircher's Bell Wheel at the Museum of Jurassic Technology. 
Thanks to Val Bertoia and David Wilson, respectively, for permissions granted.
Cinematography: Eric Edwards and Vanessa Renwick
Edit: Vanessa Renwick
online edit: Tim Scotten
Senior Aquarist at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, 
gaffer,and jellyfish fluffer: Evonne Mochon-Collura
Medusa screen: Philip Cooper with help from Dana Dart-McClean
Sea grass pillows: Natalie Barela
The Sandy Sea Bottom: Nick Storie
Installation Production Supervisor- Tomas Valladares
production assistance: Corey Arnold, Mike Cobb, and 
Kendall Core
Video Mapping- Tyler Centanni
Drape Saint-T.C. Smith

made possible in part with a grant from 
The Regional Arts and Culture Council

Many thanks to the Oregon Coast Aquarium for permission to film the Aurelia (Moon jellies) and the Chrysaora fuscescens (Pacific Sea Nettles) in their care.
Special thanks to Senior Aquarist Evonne Mochon-Collura

It premiered in the 2012 Oregon Biennial in April. It has screened at The Centre Pompidou-Paris and Centre Pompidou- Metz late April 2012 with Tara Jane ONeil doing a live score for it. It also has screened at Other Cinema, San Francisco, Unknown Music Series #1 in Anacortes, WA. and the Northwest Film Forum in Seattle, Wa.