Monk in Pieces

Defying easy classification as a pioneer of interdisciplinary art in downtown New York in the ’60s and ’70s, visionary composer and performer Meredith Monk routinely pairs dance, theater, film, and installations in her unique performances. Considering the human voice an instrument with a unique ability to emote beyond words, her music centers her three-octave range as she transitions between whispers, ululations, guttural sounds, and lullabies. Now in her seventh decade of creativity, she ponders how such singular work can go on without her. Intertitled chapters, based largely on the artist’s works, segue playfully between archival performances, home movies, and family photos, present-day footage, and animated sequences based on her dream journals. Candid interviews with friends, collaborators, and admirers, including Gabriel Byrne, Björk, and Philip Glass, add context, while Monk herself provides an intimate glimpse into her studio, personal life, and process with her trademark intelligence. —Lori Donnelly

2024 JFI Completion Grants: Albert & Judith Goldberg Award for Jewish Arts & Culture

California Premiere