Paradise lands in the Atlanta Contemporary

Kirstin Mitchell explores the true meaning of paradise in her one-night performance, <i>Tropic of Gemini</i>.

By Muriel Vega Tuesday March 15, 2016 10:03 AM EDT

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We always fall, whether we want to or not, into the trap of grass greener and wishing for things that we don’t have. That’s exactly what Kirstin Mitchell, formerly known as Kiki Blood, explored during her journey in a tiny island off Puerto Rico. “I went to find paradise and found it a rather illusive thing,” Mitchell says. “This process of seeking became a springboard for the live work.”

Now, Mitchell is bringing the footage of her tropical journey to her one-night performance and video installation, Tropic of Gemini, Thurs., Mar. 17, at the Atlanta Contemporary.

This installation and performance is part of a larger project by Mitchell. “Dashboard and I began our work together with one grand project idea — to kill off Kiki Blood,” Mitchell says. “But instead, what started happening was a slow movement of what is now being called Momentum Exercises, which is comprised of three corresponding exhibitions.” Tropic of Gemini is the second part of the three-part series.

Mitchell presented One Shot, the first part of the series, at Antenna Gallery in New Orleans last September. She conceived this live performance during her residency at AIR Serenbe as an archery exercise. You can view the video here.

The upcoming third and last part of the Momentum Exercises series is still in the works and focuses on the need for speed. “The project will take the throttle with use of a boat,” she says. “The common themes in this body of work are movement, direction and speed, among other things.”

Presented by Presented by Dashboard at the Atlanta Contemporary, Mitchell says viewers can expect a walk through paradise and plenty of tropical drinks. We’ll be ready with our fanciest sunglasses.

http://www.dashboard.us/gemini/https://www.facebook.com/events/606351726186463/https://www.facebook.com/events/606351726186463/Check out Tropic of Gemini at 6 p.m. on Thurs., Mar. 17, at the Atlanta Contemporary. RSVP here.