Eye of Mnemosyne, a multimedia orchestral collaboration between composer Sarah Kirkland Snider and visual artist Deborah Johnson, explores the intersection of memory, innovation, and cultural transformation. Drawing on the myth of Mnemosyne, the Greek Goddess of Memory, the work reframes George Eastman and his groundbreaking Kodak campaigns as conduits for the evolution of American storytelling and visual identity. The piece pays particular homage to the Kodak Girls — Mnemosyne's muses, as it were — sophisticated, independent figures who symbolized modernity and creativity during photography’s golden age.
The work unfolds as a series of eight movements that trace photography's historical and cultural impact, from its roots in mourning rituals to its role in democratizing memory and shaping personal and collective histories. The visuals for the piece incorporate architectural mapping, integrating the classical Grecian features of Rochester’s Eastman Hall into an active part of the visual narrative. Juxtaposing photography with ancient-inspired architecture, the visuals create a dynamic interplay between present and past, representing one of Mnemosyne's most poignant and effective strategies to shape our collective cultural identity.
Blending mythology with history, Eye of Mnemosyne invites audiences to reflect on the manifold ways the art of photography has shaped how we remember and frame our lives.
- Prelude: "Eye of Mnemosyne"
The journey begins with the essential lens of Mnemosyne, the goddess who gave humanity the gift of memory. - Mnemonic: "Wheel of the Muses"
Inspired by Mnemosyne’s nine muses, this movement celebrates the emergence of creativity as a cultural force. The Kodak Girls, portrayed as modern muses, spark the power of photography to inspire and transform everyday moments into enduring memories. - Mori: "Memory of the Dead"
Set in 19th-century frames, this movement reflects on post-mortem photography as a way of honoring life and loss. The Kodak Girls transition from symbols of mourning to harbingers of joy, heralding a shift in how Americans engage with memory and photography with the advent of the posed smile. - Vive: "Power of the Snapshot"
Photography becomes a tool of liberation with the invention of Kodak’s portable cameras and endless exposure. The Kodak Girls, now independent and adventurous, embody the spontaneity and accessibility of the snapshot, reflecting America’s spirit of innovation and progress. - Memento: "Defense Against Time"
By the early 20th century, photography was firmly embedded in American family life. This movement portrays the Kodak Girls as archivists of memory, capturing fleeting moments that would become the building blocks of personal and cultural history. - Nostos: "War Story"
During World War I, photography bridged the emotional distance between home and the front lines. The Kodak Girls symbolize resilience and nostalgia, their images offering a sense of stability amidst upheaval while preserving the stories of those lost to war. - Ephemera: "Fragmented Memory"
This movement captures the impermanence of memory and the fragility of photographs. The Kodak Girls’ legacy endures as their images evoke personal intimacy and the larger currents of history, even as the snapshots themselves begin to decay and fragment. - Psyche (Epilogue): "Lens of Nostalgia"
The narrative concludes by returning to the lens of Mnemosyne and the gift of memory. The Kodak Girls, as muses of the personal and collective past, return to their source, longing for a still more eternal way to preserve memory and history.
