james rouvelle

Current and Recent Essays

She Had Four Children

by Almost Visible on August 23, 2026 at 5:11 pm

Finding the Rovellis, 4: A sentence I heard twice in the first hour and understood a year later.

Be Kind, But Tell Them the Truth

by Almost Visible on August 16, 2026 at 3:09 pm

Finding the Rovellis, 3: One hour with the woman who had been keeping my family’s record for ninety years.

No Time to Lose

by Almost Visible on August 9, 2026 at 3:09 pm

Finding the Rovellis, 2: A takeout menu on the sidewalk, a door propped open, and the long way to a village in Piemonte.

I add a new essay every Sunday. Above are the three most recent. For previous writings, visit almostvisible.substack.com

For artworks, scroll down.

About Thresholds @ MITU580, Documentation

About Thresholds is a collaboration between Lili Maya (Sculpture, Live Video, Set Design), Jude Markey-Smith (Choreography) and me. The video and music were performed live.

Part 1 was performed first in Brescia, Italy in August 2025, and then in October 2025 in Brooklyn at PAGEANT.

The complete work was premiered at MITU580 in Brooklyn on May 30, 2026.

I encourage you to read the post about the project, The Geometry Remains. On making a work that undoes itself.

Individual parts:

Part 1 (dance, sculpture, music):

Part 2 (live video, sculpture, music):

Part 3 (dance, sculpture, music):

Writing about the project:

The Geometry Remains by Almost Visible

On making a work that undoes itself

Read on Substack

PREMIERE: About Thresholds arrives in Brooklyn Saturday, May 30

Last October, some of you joined us in Brooklyn for an early look at our in-progress showing. Today, we are excited to invite you to the premiere of the fully completed work.

Join me, Lili Maya, and choreographer Jude Markey-Smith on Saturday, May 30 at MITU580 for the premiere of About Thresholds.

About Thresholds is a textured, 60-minute performance that unfolds across three distinct sections. Set within a field of sculpture, dance, live video, and sound, the piece explores interior and exterior proportionality as a dynamic framework of orientation—directly influenced by the dancer’s changing pulse.

Performance Details