MERCE is a duo comprised of harpist/electronic musician Shelley Burgon and turntablist Maria Chavez. Tracing it’s roots to the artists’ time in residence with the Merce Cunningham Dance company, this project finds Maria and Shelley performing improvised pieces that employ loops and live processing. MERCE has performed at Issue Project Room, MoMA PS1 and the Stone in New York City. This will be the duos’ first performance in Los Angeles.

Maria Chavez is an avant-turntablist whose work has been known to focus on solo electric-acoustic sound pieces that use a collection of new and broken needles, which she calls “pencils of sound.” Accidents, coincidence and failures are themes that unite her sound sculptures, installations and other works with her improvised solo turntable performance practice.

Shelley Burgon is a harpist, composer and sound artist living and working in both NYC and CA. Shelley is currently a member in the chamber group Ne(x)tworks featuring Joan La Barbara and in Anthony Braxton’s Septet. As a soloist she performs ambient, ethereal, electronic music and enjoys making multichannel sound and light installations.

Lucas Gorham is an interdisciplinary artist whose work ranges from music (both pop and avant- forms) to conceptual art. Within the world of experimental music, he is most known for his work on prepared lap steel guitar, where his live performances seek to walk the line between meditative compositions and spastic improvisations.

Doors at 7pm / Sound at 8pm