perseverance, a reoccurring theme
probing the unknown, striving for clarity
then i remember the need to be still
to step away from the chaos and listen
deconstruction, thread by thread
the space where perseverance and stillness meet
here i grapple with transformation
(written by charles joy livermore)
la persévérance, un thème récurrent
touchant à l'inconnu, recherchant avec ferveur la clarté
je me rappelle de me tenir en silence
de m' éloigner du chaos et d'écouter
la déconstruction, fil par fil
l'espace où la persévérance et le silence se rencontrent
ici je saisi la transformation.
(translated by kayla and didier heslon)
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Deconstruction is a practice centered around the deliberate unraveling of a piece of fabric, thread by thread. The repetitive action is meditative in nature; it is a vehicle for contemplation, mindful conversation, movement.
The initial iteration of the practice represented Livermore’s disentanglement from a regimented belief system. He was raised in an evangelical christian tradition that did not have room for the person that they are becoming. It is now clear that this metaphor mirrors a mass movement away from the evangelical church. A movement that was catalyzed by the 2016 election.
Since 2015 Livermore has facilitated Deconstruction events that invite others to unravel small pieces of fabric together. Many people have articulated a feeling of catharsis as they engage with the practice in community.
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Two disembodied hands slowly and methodically unravel a small strip of canvas. They chase a moment of resonance as the thread leaves the whole.
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Over the course of ten years Livermore has facilitated Deconstruction events from Muncie, Indiana to Paris, France.
These events have been hosted during open studio nights, at universities, and with spiritual communities. The common denominator is an opportunity to slow down and mindfully connect with other participants.
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Livermore collaborated with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra for an event at PlySpace. That spring the orchestra hosted quartet performances in different locations around Muncie, Indiana. This performance was Livermore’s community engagement project as one of PlySpace’s pilot residents.
Participants were invited to unravel fabric, thread by thread, as they listened to the quartet perform. After the performance, Livermore facilitated a group discussion about the practice of unraveling. This conversation was centered around listening.
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Livermore experimented with Linda Ryan on a movement based performance of Deconstruction at PlySpace and SMUSH Gallery in 2019. The artists worked together to unravel a three yard piece of fabric, thread by thread.
Deconstruction III shifts the focus to the body-- by performing repetitive action in collaboration, the work expands Deconstruction to a multi-person endeavor centered on the mental and physical spaces we can share with others.
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Three years ago Livermore chose to leave the practice behind, quite literally. He asked Heather Harper to help document the ephemera (over fifty pounds of threads and other artifacts collected over the years) before he drove them back to Muncie, Indiana. Livermore then left everything behind at East Central Recycling.