Michelle Ellsworth, recently named a college professor of distinction, discusses the intersection of technology, ancient thinkers and language
Michelle Ellsworth is a dancer, but her art encompasses more than what is traditionally viewed as dance. As The New York Times noted in 2018, 鈥渉er eccentric and marvelously original art defies easy categorization.鈥澨�
At the top of the page:听Jadd Tank demonstrates Ellsworth's "over-the-counter counter-terrorism" protocol for avoiding surveillance (protocol No. 5: hiding in furniture) in her performance of "Clytigation" at the Chocolate Factory in November, 2015.
For starters, Ellsworth, a college professor of distinction in theatre and dance, recalls a time in which she created 鈥渇ake rocks,鈥� made from concrete poured into a mold, each containing a hamburger in the middle of the concrete.听
What is the artist鈥檚 intent?
鈥淭here are so many ways to read a work鈥� of art, Ellsworth says. 鈥淚 have personally always resisted suggesting any particular read of my work, but today I鈥檓 going to try.鈥�
That鈥檚 how Ellsworth introduces her that commemorates her being named a 2020 college professor of distinction. In normal years, professors of distinction discuss their areas of expertise in front of a live audience on campus. This year, the honorees are doing pandemic-friendly presentations.听
Other recent winners are Robert Pasnau of philosophy, Elspeth Dusinberre of classics, and Pieter Johnson and Katharine N. Suding of ecology and evolutionary biology.听
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