Dusk CHAMBER BACKDROP, 2022
Dock St. Theatre
Charleston, South Carolina
ABOUT THE WORK
Dusk, created in 2022 as a stage backdrop for the Bank of America Chamber Music series at Spoleto Festival USA, was installed at the Dock Street Theatre in Charleston and continues to serve as the backdrop for chamber music performances through the 2026 season. The original painting on paper (50 x 38 in.) began with a layer of painted Spanish moss, followed by a layer of azalea leaves. Finally, a dense layer of airbrushed reds, oranges, and magentas fused the composition into a dusk-like landscape. The final backdrop was created by digitally mirroring the original painting multiple times, transforming the shapes into a larger, symmetrical, patterned structure that suggests a dense forest—magical and mysterious, with an almost ghostly presence that envelopes the performers.
This patterning echoes qualities found in chamber music: repetition, variation, and the way small gestures build into a larger whole. During performances, Dusk provides a constant visual presence—warm in color, yet layered with shadow. Rather than depicting the Lowcountry landscape literally, it evokes the region through dense foliage, hanging moss, and the distinctive intensity of evening light. Festival coverage described the backdrop as framing the chamber music series, surrounding the performers in bright, warm hues.¹
¹ Spoleto Festival USA. “With ‘a sweeping achievement’ at its center, Spoleto Festival USA’s 46th season carries renewed energy and artistic vitality.” Press Release, June 14, 2022. Read Press Release