Inspired by its history and fueled by its future, Miller called upon fellow creatives in dance, sound, and light to join her in an exploration of the Moran Plant, an abandoned coal power plant and one of the last remaining original structures of Burlington, Vermont’s once-industrial waterfront. The plant powered the city from 1954–1986, but received rejuvenating energy in 2013 from New Moran, Inc., a local nonprofit working to transform the building into a community hub. During that time, artists, musicians, and other creatives were invited to imagine the potential of the structure through a series of events. Powered by Moran was one of the first events of the series.
The piece was a site-specific, improvisational, and multisensory performance encouraging discovery of the fascinatingly derelict building in new and unexpected ways while focusing on the power of collective experience and the historical function of the plant. About Moran, Miller stated, “The memory of intense heat from the generation of power is everywhere, yet the space itself is now cold and abandoned. Gritty, dark, and industrial. It’s filled with catwalks above and water-filled ducts below. Being in it is incredibly energizing.” The building was not merely a stage—it was a dynamic and interactive environment for a multilevel performance that encased and engaged those in attendance.
June 7, 2015
Burlington, Vermont
Site Moran Plant
Duration 45 minutes, two performances
Movers Paul Besaw, Erika Senft Miller, Marly Spieser-Schneider
Movement Choir Director Sara McMahon
Lights John B. Forbes
Projection Hilary Hess
Sound Miles Dean Ewell
Movement Choir Erin Duffee, Laura Gordon, Beth Hartmann, Chong Ho Kim, Joy Madden, Anna Senft Miller, Jonathan Silverman, Lida Winfield, Martha Ming Whitfield, Abby Pepin
Photographer Monika Rivard
Moran Historian Roger Donnegan
