Monk in Pieces

How does one describe the glorious, multifaceted work of artist Meredith Monk? Well into her eighties, she’s still making extraordinary performance pieces that combine theater, dance and music in mind-bending ways. Filmmaker Billy Shebar, who has known Monk for years, creates a full portrait by presenting her many distinct parts. To do this he blends an engaging mix of rare archival footage, interviews with other artists she influenced (Bjork, David Byrne, Philip Glass), and his own conversations with Monk as she makes coffee and coos with her pet turtle, Neutron, in her Tribeca loft.

Q&A with director Billy Shebar