Inside the Pillow Lab: Zoe Scofield

Inside the Pillow Lab is an intimate new film series that captures works in process and behind-the-scenes moments of what it’s like for artists to live, work, and rehearse together again in COVID-compliant residencies on the Pillow’s retreat-like campus. Zoe Scofield, a dance and visual artist whose work often incorporates complex multimedia elements, was in residence at nearby presenting partner MASS MoCA with additional funding and support provided by Jacob’s Pillow. During her residency, Scofield continued to develop "The Other Shore," a dance, video, and sound performance (originally developed in a 2018 Pillow Lab). Designed for a non-proscenium space, "The Other Shore" redesigns the relationship between audience and performer by literally shifting the audience’s perspective, creating a work that is viewed from lying on the ground. This shift of orientation expands notions of power, and of how and where dance can exist in space and time. Scofield also developed a Virtual Reality version of "The Other Shore" to be experienced at home, as well as a durational installation version with the audience free to move about while a soloist performs a ritual for an extended period. Based in Seattle, Washington since 2002, Zoe Scofield is the Co-Artistic Director and choreographer of zoe | juniper (zj), a dance and visual arts team comprised of Scofield and visual artist Juniper Shuey. A 2015 Guggenheim Fellow, Scofield has been commissioned by and presented work at Jacob’s Pillow, On the Boards, Dance Theater Workshop/NYLA, ICA Boston, The Joyce Theater, and others. The Pillow Lab, the Pillow’s year-round center for research and development, provides artists the crucial space and time in development, research, and technical stages of choreography-driven projects. For over two decades, MASS MoCA has been one of the nation’s most productive venues for nurturing and creating new art—especially art which requires sophisticated equipment, generous spaces, and extended time—by offering excellent infrastructure and professional support and facilities. Over 500 artists have participated in extensive artist-in-residence and technical workshops including Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, William Kentridge, Helga Davis, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne/Fatboy Slim/Annie-B Parson, and many others. In response to the new needs of artists in the wake of COVID-19, MASS MoCA has dramatically expanded its residency program, providing vital opportunities for artists to come together safely to create new work under these extraordinary circumstances. zoe | juniper RESIDENCY DATES: May 3–17, 2021 Zoe Scofield Juniper Shuey Lilach Orenstein Evan C. Anderson Sara Brown Gilbert T Small II Meredith Glisson Sydney Donovan Claude “CJ” Johnson Kehari Hutchinson Julian Martlew Emma Margarita Erenst MUSIC: Evan C. Anderson FILMING: Zoe Scofield Juniper Shuey Lilach Orenstein NEL SHELBY PRODUCTION CREDITS Produced by Nel Shelby Edited by Caroline Haidet Graphic Design by Benjamin Richards Nina Gershonowitz, Project Manager Special thanks to Dr. Wendy Ziecheck for supporting this residency and MIT School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Lead support for the 2020–21 Pillow Lab and residencies at MASS MoCA are provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. With Additional Support from: The Irene Hunter Fund for Dance at MASS MoCA Deborah & Charles Adelman Arison Arts Foundation The Barr Foundation Harkness Foundation for Dance Christopher Jones & Deb McAlister Mertz Gilmore Foundation National Endowment for the Arts © 2021 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Inc.