Christensen, Julia
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Digital access to this material is pending artist's approval. Materials may be viewed onsite at the Goldsen Archive, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Kroch Library, Cornell University.
My work has moved throughout various forms of media extensively during my career, but my tendency to work as a composer informs all my leaps between media. Identifying seemingly disparate elements and tying them together in a larger composition is my general technique, whether I am working in sound, video, installation, or taking on major research projects. Another important characteristic of my work is the goal of exploring new ways in which to use existing technologies, with the belief that the art lies at the intersection of creativity and research. My work has always crossed the bounds of various academic or artistic fields, and throughout these crossovers, the overarching theme is the careful composition that my large pieces require. In the earlier part of my career, my composerly techniques were played out primarily in my sound and video installations, as I would strategize techniques for the light and sound sources to become instruments, creating spatial compositions with the elements. Eventually this evolved into using the internet as an additional form of mediation, allowing my composition to almost act as a "score," which is not fulfilled until it is interacted with, or performed. In recent years, my love for composition and multi-disciplinary exploration has led me to intersect my artwork with socio-cultural research, specifically dealing with land use and travel in the United States. Currently, my compositions are made up of large research works.