Erika Kim Milenkovic
  • Home
  • Art
    • What's Your View?
    • #TakeASketchLeaveASketch
    • SynchroSwim 2014
    • Man
    • Nature
    • Handmade Paper
  • Blog
  • Bio
  • Resume
  • Contact

SynchroSwim 2014

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
On August 17, 2014, Erika Kim Milenkovic and her team performed in a special water art performance for the Washington Project for the Arts SynchroSwim 2014. The team created a battle scene of Captain Planet and the Planeteers in their fight against Pollution.

Team
: The Elementals

Performers:
Daphne Clem 
Mary England
April Gomez
Sean Gomez
Ally Hunter-Harris
Alison Keener
Erika Kim Milenkovic

Title: Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, Heart

Performance Description:

The scene opens with the different "Planeteers" or elements, in different positions along the pool. Captain Planet and the Planeteers are dressed as their names: Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, and Heart, although Heart is dressed more as a regular human as she represents humanity. The theme song to Captain Planet plays and each Planeteer comes alive and dances as they are mentioned in the song, although Heart remains in the audience area as she represents them. The Planeteers except for Heart gather with Captain Planet in an enthusiastic huddle before jumping in the water. 

As they enter the water, Pollution appears at the other end of the pool. Pollution begins to throw trash into the pool and make villainous gestures. Pollution and Earth, Wind, Fire and Water meet in the middle of the pool, with Pollution overtaking them one by one as Captain Planet cheers for the Planeteers at the side of the pool. Heart also enters the pool on a pool mat, but does not engage in fighting Pollution. After Pollution fights all of the other Planeteers, she thrashes Heart off the pool mat easily. Heart floats lifelessly in the pool. With Heart gone, Earth, Wind, Fire and Water slowly revive and then attack Pollution, until Pollution tries to escape to the other end and die. With Pollution gone and the Lounging Person dead, Earth, Wind, Fire and Water collect the trash in the pool and celebrate their win with the Captain Planet. 

The performance represents man's inaction to save the planet from pollution, which leads to his demise. The elements Earth, Wind, Fire and Water, though at first weakened by pollution, will overcome pollution once man is eradicated.
Read preview articles about SynchroSwim in the Washington Post here and here
View pictures and read the write-up by The Brightest Young Things
View pictures from Washington Project for the Arts' Facebook photos.
Each performer made their own costume, with balloon art and face painting by April Gomez.
Picture
From left to right: Erika Kim Milenkovic, Daphne Clem, Sean Gomez, April Gomez, Mary England, Ally Hunter-Harris, Alison Keener
Picture
Planeteer rings by April Gomez
Picture
April Gomez as Fire
Picture
Erika Kim Milenkovic as Pollution. Costume made of found materials (plastic bags, cans, bottles, etc)
Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.