Textiles Invite Movement In This Ethereal Installation

The dance world has a rich history of cross-medium collaboration, from fashion-forward costumes to sets by noted visual artists. At Carvalho Park, a newly expanded gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the tradition continues. Breathing life into the gallery’s rather raw, industrial interiors, textile artist Diana Orving orchestrates a marriage between materiality and movement. Floating layers of silk organza and jute color the space, as if walking through a deconstructed tutu. Comprised of 1,600 square feet of fabric with visible seams, Orving’s installation seeks to evoke various states of the human experience, from the depths of the mind to roots of connection. The work also invites uncertainty as the textiles shift and sway, taking on forms beyond the artist’s control.

Conceived in tandem with New York City Ballet principal dancer, Sara Mearns, and choreographer, Jodi Melnick, the installation plays host to three site-specific performances throughout its run, with a final show on August 8. Giving physical form to Orving’s dynamic creation, the dancers explore limitations of the body and the transparent fabric around them, illustrating the ripple effects of energy in motion.

Commissioned by Carvalho Park, and curated by gallery partner and director, Jennifer Carvalho, with creative director, Cynthia Dragoni, performances are free and open to the public with an RSVP. Orving’s installation is on view through August 10, 2024.