LIVING ROOM: ORLEAN, VA
ABOUT THE INSTALLATION
DAVÓNE TINES
BORN 1986, PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA; ACTIVE NEW YORK, NEW YORK
HUGH HAYDEN
BORN 1983, DALLAS, TEXAS; ACTIVE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
ZACK WINOKUR
BORN 1989, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS; ACTIVE NEW YORK, NEW YORK
A celebrated bass-baritone known for his versatile performances in both classical and contemporary music, Davóne Tines has reframed an understanding of opera across generations. His vocation as a performer has resulted in a nomadic lifestyle. Yearning for a sense of place while on the road, Tines here channels the formative site of his personal and musical development: his grandparents’ home in Orlean, Virginia. Artist Hugh Hayden has interpreted Tines’s elusive relationship with home as an attempt to regain balance and stability. A slice of Virginia country life set on a rocking plinth, the installation embodies the complexity of Tines’s memories of homes and music making while commenting on the tension between comfort and precarity felt across the United States today. Living Room, Orlean, Virginia is activated throughout the Triennial by a sonic composition and series of live performances. A grandmother’s hum, the vibration of cello strings, sizzling bacon, and a variety of familiar and distinct sounds form a tapestry of domestic experiences built through family, friendship, and adventure.
Visual Description
The former Carnegie dining room is grand in every sense of the word from its high ceilings to the intricate and lavish wood carvings integrated into the trim, paneling, and molding. A raised platform stands in the center of the space, on a base resembling a wooden rocker, tilting upward towards the north side of the gallery.
Displayed precariously on the platform is a modest living room; not even half the size of the Carnegie’s enormous dining room. An upright Yamaha piano stands at the center along the south side. The furniture is unostentatious, lovingly arranged, and meticulously cared for. Hardly a visible scratch on the mis-matched wood furniture; not a stain on the cream-colored carpet and pastel floral couch; nor an item out of place. A tall hutch topped with two ceramic figures and a large wooden clock houses decorative plates, teacups, and glassware. A white potted orchid stands on a table, as does a crystal vase of red roses. Candlesticks and miniature pianos decorate the octagonal coffee table at the center. Dozens of picture frames crowd every tabletop, each containing a mirror. The small but comfortable room is anchored by the piano, which holds a number of hymnals, spirituals, classical sheet music, and a row of golden picture frames with a task lamp at the top.
As we circle the platform, we can hear operatic music that plays from speakers placed in the corners of the room.
Acknowledgements
Artistic direction by Zack Winokur. Sonic composition by Davóne Tines and Zack Winokur. Sound engineered by Al Carlson. Project coordination by Riley Duncan and Landon Wilson. Production support from AMOC* (American Modern Opera Company).
This installation is made possible with additional support from AMOC*.
