Irene Moon
Encyclopedia
Irene Moon is an American
entomologist, performance artist, musician
, playwright
, actor
, and filmmaker. She has published in the field of entomology
as Katja Seltmann, but is best known for her alter-ego Irene Moon, under which name she has released a series of musical recordings, performance art-entomology lectures, insect/human hybrid dolls and Auk Theatre, a cycle of absurdist-horror plays that she writes and performs. She has also toured extensively throughout the United States
and Europe
in all of these capacities.
She currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida
.
. She began creating performances and films with the Melted Men, Deonna Mann and the Noisettes
in Athens, Georgia
during the late 90s, and recorded her first album in 1996. She moved to Lexington, Kentucky
in 2000 for Masters work in Entomology
with a concentration in Insect Systematics and Evolution
. While in Lexington, Moon developed Auk Theatre and began recording music under the name the Collection of the Late Howell Bend (credited for the soundtracks to Auk Theatre). She now works in the field of biodiversity informatics/entomology at Florida State University
, and continues to create musical and performance art.
and Europe
, and has toured with noise music
bands the Hair Police
and psych folk
band Eyes and Arms of Smoke, among many others. Lectures are accompanied by music, slideshows, flip charts, recorded commentary, insect sounds, and often feature background film
accompaniment. Lectures are then followed by pop quizzes and/or question and answer sessions. Topics have included the helix aspersa snail, the Death's-head Hawkmoth
, and the Nantucket Pine Tip Moth. She has lectured at such diverse venues as the Knitting Factory
in New York City
, Sluggo's in Pensacola, Florida
, the 2003 Entomological Society of America
Annual Meeting and Exhibition, and at an abandoned cathedral in Amsterdam
.
propaganda film
.
-based psychedelic
band Warmer Milks. The Collection of the Late Howell Bend have supplied the musical soundtracks to Moon's Auk Theatre. Moon's music (and lectures) have been released and distributed by Begonia Society, Surefire
, Ignivomous, Carbon Records, APOP Records, Yod
, Armageddon Record Shop
, fusetron, tomentosa, RRRecords
, Eclipse Records
, Mimaroglu Music Sales, and White Denim.
, medievalism
, and occasionally, graphic violence. Nico Nexus of NSMB has described Auk Theatre as "like Pippi Longstocking
meets Throbbing Gristle
." Auk Theatre's membership has included artist Matt Minter, musician and performance artist Sara O'keefe, musician Jeremy Midkiff (as Jeramy Midkiff), Deek hoi, Ellen Molle', Christopher Cprek, Trevor Tremaine and Robert Beatty
of Hair Police
, Darryl Cook, and Ben Fulton and John Ferguson
of ulysses
.
, and esoterica) with her own music, field-recorded insect sound samples, microphotography, and animation
. Initially, Moon used 8mm film for her shorts, but has since experimented with Videotape
and DV
. About her films, Moon has remarked : "Primarily thee visuals . . . explain or emphasize the emotion of a composition. These films are highly synthesized and predominantly fantasy. They are memories not processed, distortions of important details that are often missed or not remembered."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entomologist, performance artist, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, and filmmaker. She has published in the field of entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
as Katja Seltmann, but is best known for her alter-ego Irene Moon, under which name she has released a series of musical recordings, performance art-entomology lectures, insect/human hybrid dolls and Auk Theatre, a cycle of absurdist-horror plays that she writes and performs. She has also toured extensively throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in all of these capacities.
She currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
.
Biography
Moon was born in Raleigh, North CarolinaRaleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. She began creating performances and films with the Melted Men, Deonna Mann and the Noisettes
The Noisettes
Noisettes are an English indie rock band from London, comprising singer and bassist Shingai Shoniwa, guitarist Dan Smith, and drummer Jamie Morrison...
in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
during the late 90s, and recorded her first album in 1996. She moved to Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
in 2000 for Masters work in Entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
with a concentration in Insect Systematics and Evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
. While in Lexington, Moon developed Auk Theatre and began recording music under the name the Collection of the Late Howell Bend (credited for the soundtracks to Auk Theatre). She now works in the field of biodiversity informatics/entomology at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, and continues to create musical and performance art.
Lectures
Moon has given surrealist entomological lectures throughout the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and has toured with noise music
Noise music
Noise music is a term used to describe varieties of avant-garde music and sound art that may use elements such as cacophony, dissonance, atonality, noise, indeterminacy, and repetition in their realization. Noise music can feature distortion, various types of acoustically or electronically...
bands the Hair Police
Hair Police
Hair Police is an American psychedelic noise band based out of Lexington, Kentucky formed in 2001. They have released records through labels such as Troubleman Unlimited, Hanson Records, Gods of Tundra, Freedom From, and Hospital Productions...
and psych folk
Psych folk
Psychedelic folk or psych folk is a loosely defined form of psychedelic music that originated in the 1960s through the fusion of folk music and psychedelic rock...
band Eyes and Arms of Smoke, among many others. Lectures are accompanied by music, slideshows, flip charts, recorded commentary, insect sounds, and often feature background film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
accompaniment. Lectures are then followed by pop quizzes and/or question and answer sessions. Topics have included the helix aspersa snail, the Death's-head Hawkmoth
Death's-head Hawkmoth
The name Death's-head Hawkmoth refers to any one of the three species of moth in the genus Acherontia. The former species is primarily found in Europe, the latter two are Asian, and most uses of the common name refer to the European species...
, and the Nantucket Pine Tip Moth. She has lectured at such diverse venues as the Knitting Factory
Knitting Factory
The Knitting Factory is a music venue and concert house with locations in Brooklyn, Boise, Reno, and Spokane. The club originally specialized in jazz and experimental music and has expanded to showcasing all genres of music, performing arts and comedy....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Sluggo's in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, the 2003 Entomological Society of America
Entomological Society of America
The Entomological Society of America was founded in 1889 and today has more than 6,000 members, including educators, extension personnel, consultants, students, researchers, and scientists from agricultural departments, health agencies, private industries, colleges and universities, and state and...
Annual Meeting and Exhibition, and at an abandoned cathedral in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
Recordings
Moon has released several of her lectures as recordings. She has also released the musical accompaniment to those lectures as stand alone albums. Her first full-length record, Floralaldehyde, was released in 1996 (re-released in 1999). Notable works include Scientificially Speaking with Irene Moon, a series of her lectures and music, From Field Station A (1997, re-pressed 2004), and the soundtrack to the Thin Wax Line, an animated beeBee
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
propaganda film
Propaganda film
The term propaganda can be defined as the ability to produce and spread fertile messages that, once sown, will germinate in large human cultures.” However, in the 20th century, a “new” propaganda emerged, which revolved around political organizations and their need to communicate messages that...
.
Music
Aside from her recorded lectures, Moon has also released music under the name Collection of the Late Howell Bend. Notable titles among these works include For the Neonate (2004–2005), and a split with KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
-based psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
band Warmer Milks. The Collection of the Late Howell Bend have supplied the musical soundtracks to Moon's Auk Theatre. Moon's music (and lectures) have been released and distributed by Begonia Society, Surefire
Surefire
SureFire, LLC. is a Fountain Valley, California company whose primary products are flashlights, headlamps, weapon mounted lights and laser sights. In addition, Surefire also manufactures knives, sound suppressors, Picatinny Rails and batteries. The company is a major supplier of flashlights to the...
, Ignivomous, Carbon Records, APOP Records, Yod
Yod
A yod is a rare astrological aspect involving any celestial body of astrological importance. In astrology a yod is said to form whenever one planet forms quincunxes to another two planets that are separated by only a sextile . If each point of the yod were traced across an astrological chart it...
, Armageddon Record Shop
Armageddon Record Shop
Armageddon Record Shop is a DIY record shop located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was started by the members of Dropdead, in order to release their LP in 1998, but now carries a full array for all kinds of records, from Indie rock to Hardcore punk to Noise music. It also sells clothing, books,...
, fusetron, tomentosa, RRRecords
RRRecords
RRRecords is a used and new record shop. RRRecords is distinguished as being the first American record label to specifically publish underground noise music in the early 1980s, and published the first American vinyl by Merzbow, Masonna, The Hanatarash, Violent Onsen Geisha, and many more artists...
, Eclipse Records
Eclipse Records
Eclipse Records is an American indie rock record label based in Butler, New Jersey. The label is known for bringing the Cleveland band Mushroomhead to national attention. The current president of the label is Chris Poland.-History:...
, Mimaroglu Music Sales, and White Denim.
Auk Theatre
Moon describes Auk Theatre as: "Noisy, short and simple Absurdist theatre with only the best topics in consideration; shoes, cardbord, bats, wine, shapes and murder." To date, thirteen "Auks" have been constructed and performed. Their performances are marked by overstated art design, obscure, usually frightening subject matter, surrealismSurrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
, medievalism
Medievalism
Medievalism is the system of belief and practice characteristic of the Middle Ages, or devotion to elements of that period, which has been expressed in areas such as architecture, literature, music, art, philosophy, scholarship, and various vehicles of popular culture.Since the 18th century, a...
, and occasionally, graphic violence. Nico Nexus of NSMB has described Auk Theatre as "like Pippi Longstocking
Pippi Longstocking
Pippi Longstocking is a fictional character in a series of children's books by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, and adapted into multiple films and television series...
meets Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle were an English industrial, avant-garde music and visual arts group that evolved from the performance art group COUM Transmissions...
." Auk Theatre's membership has included artist Matt Minter, musician and performance artist Sara O'keefe, musician Jeremy Midkiff (as Jeramy Midkiff), Deek hoi, Ellen Molle', Christopher Cprek, Trevor Tremaine and Robert Beatty
Hair Police
Hair Police is an American psychedelic noise band based out of Lexington, Kentucky formed in 2001. They have released records through labels such as Troubleman Unlimited, Hanson Records, Gods of Tundra, Freedom From, and Hospital Productions...
of Hair Police
Hair Police
Hair Police is an American psychedelic noise band based out of Lexington, Kentucky formed in 2001. They have released records through labels such as Troubleman Unlimited, Hanson Records, Gods of Tundra, Freedom From, and Hospital Productions...
, Darryl Cook, and Ben Fulton and John Ferguson
John Ferguson (musician)
John Roger Ferguson is an American musician. He is currently a member of The Apples in Stereo, and he was a founding member of Big Fresh. His father, Roger Ferguson, was an associate of underground DIY figure, R. Stevie Moore, and John appeared on Moore's recordings and radio shows by age three...
of ulysses
Ulysses (band)
Ulysses is an indie rock band formed by Robert Schneider along with John Ferguson and Ben Fulton in the spring of 2003. Robert Beatty joined later that year. They released their first album, 010, on October 26, 2004 through Eenie Meenie Records...
.
Films
In addition to several filmed performance of Auk Theatre, Moon also makes films that support her lectures and musical performances, as well as stand-alone short films. These films mix factual information (usually entomological, but also historical, occultOccult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
, and esoterica) with her own music, field-recorded insect sound samples, microphotography, and animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
. Initially, Moon used 8mm film for her shorts, but has since experimented with Videotape
Videotape
A videotape is a recording of images and sounds on to magnetic tape as opposed to film stock or random access digital media. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram...
and DV
DV
DV is a format for the digital recording and playing back of digital video. The DV codec was launched in 1995 with joint efforts of leading producers of video camcorders....
. About her films, Moon has remarked : "Primarily thee visuals . . . explain or emphasize the emotion of a composition. These films are highly synthesized and predominantly fantasy. They are memories not processed, distortions of important details that are often missed or not remembered."
Doll-making
Moon has also created insect-human hybrid dolls, which she has used for a series of "micro-puppet" shows. These dolls were sold at the La Superette gallery in New York.Recordings
- From Field Station A (10 inch, 1997, re-pressed in 2004)
- the SUPLICO tape series (endless loop cassettes, 1998–2000)
- Birdsley (endless loop cassette, 1998)
- Floralaldehyde (12 inch, 1996, re-issued 1999)
- A Cocktail from the Preferred Host from Perhaps TransparentPerhaps TransparentPerhaps Transparent is a Jersey City, New Jersey based independent record label founded by Gabriel Walsh and Stephen Connolly. The label releases psychedelic and psych folk music...
. A series of short moon segments and sound effects for DJs. (2000) - People Like Us and Friends vol.1 Track is one from ABC Radio National in Australia that Moon did with People Like UsPeople Like UsPeople Like Us is a British comedy programme, a spoof on-location documentary written by John Morton, and starring Chris Langham as Roy Mallard, an inept interviewer...
and the Evolution Control Committee. (2000) - SUPLICO Gods of Tundra label (cassette, 2000–2001)
- Lovely Larva (cassette, 2001)
- Halloween Scarey Sounds (HeSDOM, 2002)
- Grooming Casualties split with FsLUX (cassette, 2002)
- From the Parlor (DVD, 2002)
- Pangolin Variations split with Ergo Phizmiz (2004)
- Dentist Auk/Split with Ortho (7 inch, 2004)
- Windpipe Moods, Compilation of Contemporary Sound Poetry (2004)
- For the Neonate (ten inch, 2004–2005)
- Free Matter for the Blind Fantastic Compilation CDs from Providence RI, 2004)
- BLD Quilt (video compilation DVD, 2005) ordnung recORDs/Ignivomous/Invisible Generation
- Find Ripe Fields with Christopher Cpreck(Deathbomb Arc Tape Club, split cassette, 2006)
- Esquisite Corpse compilation with Akbar del Inizio, Michael Mahalchick, Rob Millis, MetaluxMetaluxMetalux is a noise band consisting of M.V. Carbon and J. Graf, both members of Bride of No No. They are occasionally joined by Nautical Almanac member Twig Harper...
, John Fell Ryan, PengoPengoPengo may refer to:*Pengo , a 1982 video arcade game from Sega*Hungarian pengő, the name of an old Hungarian currency*Pengo language, a Dravidian language spoken in south central India...
, Amir Shoat, Brian TurnerBrian TurnerBrian Turner may refer to:* Brian Turner * Brian Turner and field hockey representative* Brian Turner , drummer for the Seattle-based band Schoolyard Heroes* Brian Turner , British celebrity chef...
, Robert McNeillRobert McNeillRobert McNeill was a Scottish footballer who played for Sunderland as a full back. He made his Sunderland debut against Burnley on 8 September 1894 in a 3–0 win at Newcastle Road. McNeill played for Sunderland during 1894-1901 and won an English Football League Championship medal in 1895...
and Sarah Bernat (Museum of Fine Art Houston, 2006) - Auk Theatre split with Mudboy (Bread and Animals cassette, 2006)
- Women take back the Noise Compilation. (ubuibi, 2006)
- I Don't Think the Dirt Belongs to the Grass Carbon Records, 2006
- Thin Wax Line Soundtrack to the film Thin Wax Line by David FisherDavid FisherDavid Fisher may refer to:People:* David Andrew Fisher , film director and producer including Toy Soldiers * David Dayan Fisher , British actor* David "Dudu" Fisher , Israeli singer...
with assistance from Christopher Cprek, Katy Wizard, and Yellow Crystal Star. - Collection of the Late Howell Bend/ Warmer Milks split (LP, 2007).
- Zelphabet Volume I Compilation. (Zelphabet, 2009)
Auk Theatre
- Auk One: Monster Auk
- Auk Two:Betratal Auk
- Auk Three:Dental Auk
- Auk Four: Bat Auk
- Auk Five: Conjur Auk
- Shadow Auk Formal: Auk of the Two Sisters
- Auk Six: Bad Apple Auk
- Auk Seven: Neither Auk
- Auk Eight: Presents Auk
- Auk Nine: Humors Auk
- Auk Ten: Salamander Auk
- Auk Eleven: Ten Phases of Fallen
- Auk Twelve: Court of Common Pleas
- Auk Thirteen: Auk of Nen Valentine
Films
- The Insectavore (1997)
- Perfectly Pleasant Decomposistion (1998)
- Terroristic Entomology (1999)
- P Dish (1999)
- Suprizez (2005)
- Snowflake (2005)
- Court of Common Pleas (2006)