DEFIBRILLATOR artist in resident, AARON HENDERON, is an interdisciplinary artist and educator living and working in PITTSBURGH. his videos and installations examine the personal, cultural and political ramifications of all actions, from intimate gestures to displays of super-human acrobatics.
his work is currently showing in the ELECTRODES and he will have a final exhibition of his work on FRIDAY, JULY 27 at 8pm at DEFIBRILLATOR.
AARON studied PAINTING and DRAWING at the UNIVERSITY of MICHIGAN and TRADITIONAL JAPANESE PAINTING in KYOTO, JAPAN. after his introduction to technology and performance at the OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY’S DEPARTMENT of DANCE , AARON moved to NEW YORK and co-founded LOSTWAX, a company creating fusions of performance and technology, with JAMIE JEWETT, a choreographer based in BOSTON, MA. together they created a series of multi-media performances, including an opera, “AFTER the FALL,” which premiered at ST. MARK’S in-the-BOWERY in NEW YORK CITY in 2003.
in 2003, he also began a long-term collaborative relationship with the MACARTHUR GENIUS AWARD winner ELIZABETH STREB as both a projection designer and performer. together they created performances that have been presented worldwide, including LINCOLN CENTER (NEW YORK, NY), THE INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART (BOSTON, MA), THE ORIENTE OCCIDENTE FESTIVAL (ITALY), CITY CENTER (NEW YORK, NY), BUMBERSHOOT (SEATTLE, WA), LE FESTIVAL PARIS (FRANCE), AND WOLF TRAP (VIENNA, VA). their most recent collaboration (STREB : BRAVE, 2010) featured live projections that responded to the physical movement of the dancers actions on-stage. these projects were supported in part by FUTURE ARTS RESEARCH (F.A.R.), NYSCA and CREATIVE CAPITAL MAP GRANTS.
AARON then attended the ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S ART and TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT (MFA, 2008). since graduating, he has created video installations that explore gesture, spectacle and technology in public spaces. so far, he videos feature the UNIVERSITY of MINNESOTA’S renowned CHEERLEADERS (the first organized team in the world) visitors and (and wax figures) at MADAME TUSSAUD’S wax museum and carnival rides at state and county fairs. these have been presented as solo exhibitions, screenings and festivals at venues including NEW YORK, CHICAGO, ST. LOUIS, PITTSBURGH and ESTONIA.
currently, AARON is an ASSISTANT PROFESSOR in the STUDIO ARTS DEPARTMENT at the UNIVERSITY of PITTSBURGH. please visit www.aaronhenderson.com for more information.