THE CLOTHESLINE MUSE sits majestically upon a throne of washtubs, surrounded by endless ‘wash’. A basket headdress adorns her crown, a collar of clothespins engulfing her neck. She is the memory, the history, of so many women before her and the embodiment of community lore for the multitude coming after. In her we see the struggle and strength of our ancestors. The clothesline then, like the Internet now, connecting us one to another, allowing us to share stories, to connect our collective histories.
“The Clothesline Muse” will transport you to a different world, where the onerous yet honorable task of washing clothes by hand is transformed into beautiful imagery, dance, and song. This multi-disciplinary theater performance combines the talents and knowledge of three incredible artists to create an evening of live dance, live music, spoken word, video, and interactive art. Maya Freelon Asante’ still and moving projections reflect the history and future of the clothesline. Her colorful and delicate tissue paper art hangs on the clothesline itself, endlessly drying as laundry in the sun. Kariamu Welsh’s choreographed movements mimic hand washing, drying, folding, and ironing. Borrowed from their original significance as domestic work, these motions of washing, pressing, and wringing become powerful and significant conveyors of history. Nnenna Freelon’s soundscape is both rhythmic and beautiful. She reminds us of outdoor labor and work song, while lovingly preparing clothing for its next destination. In this way, she creates a soft dissonance which reinterprets the mundane into an extraordinary event.
