Vis-a-Vis Society’s “Stretch It Out: Exercise Series for Art Engagement”

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Rachel

Exercise #9: Hatching / Cross-Hatching

THE END Video Poem

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Rachel

Just a few ways to end.

This video is a collaboration with Sierra Nelson. Together we are Vis-a-Vis Society, a group of poet-scientists dedicated to the analysis of the everyday. This excerpt is from Vis-a-Vis Society’s much longer video poem/instructional video of 1,000 ways to end. Premiered as part of Vis-a-Vis Society’s interactive installation piece “Registration” at NEPO 5K Don’t Run 2015. Written and performed by Rachel Kessler and Sierra Nelson. Director of cinematography: Britta Johnson. Editor: Britta Johnson. Sound: Britta Johnson. Studio Recording: Kent Kessler.

Video Poems

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Rachel

I’m teaching a class on video poems with the fantastic organization Path With Art right now, so I thought I should post a few of the video poems I’ve made with my collaborator, Sierra Nelson, as part of our literary performance art group Vis-a-Vis Society. (Click on the highlighted links to be transported to my vimeo videos!)

Our most recent heavy metal palindrome one-shot piece: “O, GO” which was part of an installation at the starting line of NEPO House‘s 5K “Don’t Run” artwalk last summer. Brilliantly shot by Genius Award Winning cinematographer Ben Kasulke.

An instructional video on the theme of “It’s All Downhill From Here” as part of NEPO 5k 2012, “DOWNHILL“.

“Coats” was shot on Super 8 one snowy afternoon in 2006, and recently appeared in Velocity’s Next Dance Cinema‘s 2014 program at the Northwest Film Forum. It began as a multiple choice poem about favorite coats.

If a Handful of Matches Is Thrown to the Floor

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Rachel

I’m thrilled to be a part of this conversation with Sierra Nelson at The Project Room on Monday, April 27, 7:00 PM.

If a Handful of Matches is Thrown to the Floor:

Exploring the parallels between the scientific method and divination with Artist Sierra Nelson.

MondAY, April 27, 7-8pm at The Project Room

Performance Artist and Poet Sierra Nelson invites us into a conversation questioning the roles divination, science, and artistic practice play in our understanding of the past and choices for the future. She’ll be joined by her longtime collaborator Rachel Kessler to bookend the conversation with some live experiments.