Grounded Past

Immerse yourself in a multi-sensory journey through time at MAAM with an activation of Katie Paterson’s scent-based artwork To Burn, Forest, Fire followed by a slow listening sound session composed by Maria Finkelmeier, founder of MF Dynamics, with Greg Jukes. 

To Burn, Forest, Fire involves the burning of two incense sticks–one evoking the scents of the earth’s earliest forest and the other imagining the aroma of the last forest. 

Offered as a moment of calm and reflection, this experience seeks to remind us of humanity’s role in increasing levels of extinction around the globe. 

Maria Finkelmeier 

mfdynamics.com | @mfdynamics | @mariafinkelmeier

Named a “one-woman dynamo” by the Boston Globe, Maria is a percussionist, composer, new media artist, and Associate Professor of Creative Entrepreneurship at Berklee College of Music. Whether it’s scoring conceptual art films or serving as director, composer, and performer in multi-sensory experiences, her work continually transcends both genre and medium. 

Empowered by sonic exploration and obsessed with making noise, she transformed Fenway Park into a percussive playground and turned the Roebling Bridge into a sound and light instrument. She's used AI to investigate gender bias through music and poetry, flipped a bus into a mobile electronic bucket drumming program, and performed at iconic global venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Smithsonian, and Théatre des Champs-Elysées. Along with her projects at MF Dynamics, she's played with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Silkroad Ensemble, and Baltic Sea Philharmonic. Her cutting-edge work has been featured in the Boston Globe, National Parks Magazine, Boston Magazine, Vulture, SunSentinel, I Care if you Listen and on WGBH, WBUR, and CBS. 

Maria received a Bachelor of Music degree from The Ohio State University and a Master of Music degree from Eastman School of Music, where she was granted a Performer’s Certificate in recognition of her artistic achievements and Arts Leadership Certificate. Maria is a Yamaha Performing Artist. 

Greg Jukes 

gregjukes.com

Greg Jukes (he/him) is a versatile and innovative performer, educator, and arts administrator whose career spans a wide range of disciplines and achievements. From his early days of drumming on pots and pans to co-founding the hybrid arts ensemble The Fourth Wall, Greg’s life has been driven by his love for music and performance.

Greg lives in Somerville, MA just outside Boston with his wife Alexis Hedrick (an amazing circus artist!) and many house plants. When not performing or advising, Greg enjoys cooking, spending time in nature, and indoor rock climbing.

Greg's multifaceted talents and passion for the arts make him a dynamic and influential figure in the arts community, continually pushing the boundaries of performance and education.

Sensory experience Notice

This event will feature the burning of incense and is not recommended for individuals with scent sensitivities. 

Ticketing Notice

This event is free with advance registration. MAAM may accommodate unregistered walk-up guests on the evening of this event only as capacity allows; walk-up tickets on the evening of the event are not guaranteed. Evening events often sell out; plan ahead and register in advance. 

Documentation Notice  

Photos and/or videos will be taken at this event. By attending this event, you acknowledge and agree that your likeness may be included in photos and videos of the event and that those photos and videos may be used by MassArt in connection with MassArt and MassArt Art Museum communications. If you do not agree with this usage, please notify a staff member upon arrival to receive a no-photo sticker. 

Access

MassArt Art Museum is committed to creating a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive environment during in-person and virtual programs and events. To request an access or disability-related accommodation, please contact MassArt Art Museum at maam@massart.edu at least two weeks before the date of the event. 

Free

Advance REGISTRATION Required