DETROIT, MI - Robert Martin, Professor of Art and Computer Design at Wayne State University, will be presenting his performance "Voudou: an Interactive Video Opera" at Wayne State on Friday, March 21, 2003 at 11:45 a.m. The presentation will be held in the Schaver Music Recital Hall, located at 480 W. Hancock and is free and open to the public. For more information call (313) 577-1795.

Martin's performance is inspired by Haitian, Brazilian, Cuban, Trinidad and other cultures that conduct Voudou ceremonies, (a religion of the common people of Africa), and the performances of Oskar Schlemmer, Bauhaus choreographer. Voudou, the religion and Schlemmer's work are meant to reflect their most noted characteristics, a melody of sense and non-sense, characterized by color, form, nature and art; man and machine, acoustics and mechanics. "Over all, this performance will introduce its audience to a culture that has always displayed a natural interactive mixture of art and life," stated Professor Martin. "The opera will introduce its audience to true interactive visual and performing art and a society of people who are not afraid to take chances or assess consequences."

"Voudou" is a nonlinear interactive computer work that overcomes the usual linear limitations of visual art and music. The work incorporates a visual and audio installation using live and improvised qualities found in jazz. Martin will use his body as an instrument to produce music and animated visual art, controlled by a drum Kat, a Mattel PowerGlove, 5 computers, MAX software, brainwave data, and camera virtual reality. The audio tracks in this project were influenced by the music of John Coltraine, John Cage and African Voudou rhythms.

Robert Martin received his M.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is currently a Professor of Computer Design and Associate Chair for the Wayne State University Department of Art and Art History. Professor Martin's art is autobiographical. He is continuously searching for the synergistic relationship between humans, computers, cultures and other mediums. In the mid-1980's, Martin began using computers to create art and musical compositions in graphics, film, video, sculpture and interactive-multimedia events. He continues to direct his efforts to extending the technology to afford new ways for artistic expression for him and for other artists through electronic arts.

Wayne State University Department of Music is celebrating 84 years of artistic and academic excellence. The Department's faculty includes renowned jazz artists, composers, scholars, educators and members of the internationally acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra. WSU alumni have gone on to careers in distinguished orchestras, ensembles and as soloists and music educators the world over. For more information on the Department of Music, call 313.577.1795 or visit the WSU Department of Music Web site.