Event

blank (2018)

Paint is a substance that takes its own form and journey once on the canvas. In blank, the canvas is the body of the artist, who gradually discovers that the paint will not erase the issues they wish to rid themselves from. Rather, it masks them; they must paint themselves so that everyone around does not see the blank the emptiness inside, the vulnerability and pain. On the artist, you see not only the vibrancy, but also the chaos.

Marisa Tornello is an interdisciplinary performance artist born and raised in NYC. Studying music in college, Marisa's passion in the performing arts is widespread, dabbling in a variety of genres, including early music, musical theater, minimalism, songwriting, bodypainting, durational performance art, and improvisational movement. Musically, Marisa is a member of the New York Choral Society, and has performed on the stages of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, the Prudential Center, and Palau de la Musica. She has had the opportunity to perform with many artists, including Peter Yarrow, Andrea Bocelli, Renee Fleming, Anna Netrebko, and the Met Orchestra. Marisa is an alumna of the Trinity/La MaMa Program, and made her New York debut performing the ensemble piece Searching for Home at La MaMa in 2012. In 2015, Marisa composed, wrote, choreographed, and directed an original musical called Keeping Perfect Time, a piece that shines a spotlight on the relationship between music therapy, dementia, and caregiving. Marisa has been an active model in the NYC bodypainting community since 2015, and had the opportunity to model in an episode of Project Runway in 2014. Her piece blank premiered at the Baumann in June of 2018. She is thrilled to be bringing blank to a new audience during Ladyfest!

Photo credit to Ethan Berube