“Blown out everything, everything mixed by a confused oddball: it’s perfect” —John Inzane Olson
Dr. Evilletown (she / her also known as Dr. E., ECM, Hatecha, and Bettyy Nelsonn) is a true Multidisciplinary Artist, focused on sound and vision. She has spent the last 25 years working in Queens, Austin, and rural Mississippi. Her performance installations (including site - specific choreography, urban noise, sculpture, drawing, video, and music) have been performed in venues through out North America. Her ancestral lineage research has left her fascinated and horrified by the brutality of colonialism. Exploring themes of gender, Chocktaw tradition in modern societal expectations, generational farming, scoliosis, abuse of power, shadows, and celebrity worship, her work can be described as “environmental”.
Dr Evilletown has had a lot of terrible “day” jobs. She has also contributed to more traditional means of art consumption, as a musician, composer, visual artist, choreographer, and dancer. She had the honor of collaborating on a sound and visual installation for the Kara Walker 2010 swing space. Small batch label called brainplanrecords, was established in 2009. Known primarily for cassette releases, the label has also put out CDs, records, and produces performance events. Dr. E appears in the book “Life Is A Rip Off: The Complete Book / Music Criticism” by John “Inzane” Olson (Third Man Books). Coincidentally, her entry is right next to her singular inspiration, John Lee Hooker.
Notable works + performances:
2024 (February 25th) Excerpt from Permutation of Feeling for the Edge in the Dark, as part of NACHMO film festival 2024
2023 (Wednesdays in September/ October) featured short film in each episode of Eating Sharp Fruit Season 2 on Chicago Public Access TV
2023 (September 22-23) See the Way that I Could Not for Bushwick Open Studios. Installation with sensory tub, sculpture, and looped video with live music.
2023 (February) Under the Weight of the Dirty Road, movement and sound performance with video. As part of WAXworks group show
2022 (December 1-12th) Que es la / Float Upon a Wish, music video for Smoakstock 12
2022 ( September 23-25th) Hopeless Heroes Hear My Cry, public music video projections for Art in Odd Places 14th street, NYC
2022 (August 17th-21st) Trying to Breathe Before the Water is Gone, music video, for Aural Visions 7 by Laura Craft and Nha Ming Brooklyn, NY
2022 (January 3rd-7th) Sounds for Red Sand, time- based public fiber art, as part of the Red Sand Project Rosemary’s Playground, Queens, NY
2021 (December 12th) Trees Whisper Turn Back, music video for Smhoakstock 11
2021 -2022 (November 17th-April 2022) En Fuego for Visibilty and Remembrance: Standing with the Trans Community online exhibit, University of South Florida, FL
2021 (August 16th, 17th, & 19th) A More Perfect Block immersive video screening for two evenings prior to the community installation event on Sunday 09.19. free to the public with a generous grant from the NYFA, MadeinNY, QueensTheatre, and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
2021 (July 10th) Can’t Give Me No Peace In three movements for Weirdwick Festival Brooklyn, NY
2021 (April 10-11) Everyone Hates Me So What III / rooftop video installation with live choreography Queens, NY
2021 (Febraury 20) Everyone Hates Me So What II / public walk through video installation between Onderdonk and Woodward Queens, NY
2021 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑜 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑟 𝐼𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎 𝑀𝑖 𝐶𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑜 / music and video for Alquimia Rítmica groupo show, Ruido Noise Gallery, Austin, TX
2020 In The Holler / music and video by Dr. Evilletown premiered at Smhoakstock X
2020 Mound Lay Beside Me / conceived by Dr. E and Kate F. Choreography sound and video by Dr E. Sculptures and additional footage by Kate F.
2020 Hillbillies Watch Me While I Sleep / site- specific music performance video
2020 tWO OuTtA ThReE / music and site - specific choreography video
2020 Act/Remember / site specific installation. for the RAWarts National Arts Drive. All ages, walk through exhibit encouraging audience participation in complete accordance with CDC recommended social distancing guidelines. Follow the path of social injustice to a film projected ending.
2020 Nematode / film using improvised music, paper collage, and site - specific choreography
2020 Zorba / live improvised music + noise with staging / costuming elements performed at Skinny Apartment Closing Ceremonies
2019 Who Will Save Us III / music + movement at Park Church Co-Op Brooklyn, NY
2019 Who Will Save Us II / music and voice performed twice for the 9/11 memorial in two public locations. Site specific, pop up locations, using city noise as a backdrop
2019 Who Will Save Us I / music and video as part of the Covert Metal Festival Queens, NY. This set was also complied into a soundtrack for the video footage surrounding this project.
2018 January set / performed by Crammm Structured improvisation with guitar, voice, cell phone, and drums. Additional performers included Loren Conners (RIP) + Steve Dalachinsky (fresh air), st -keto, and Alianthusduo. As part of Abasement experimental series at Max Fish lower east side.
2016 Surgery 1 / performed spoken word, and noise using voice, guitar and drum machines while dressed in full scrubs as Dr. Evilletown alias. As part of Goodnight Daycare noise festival at Shoot the Lobster on the lower east side, NYC
2015 Spidering into the Hole / choreographed, staged, performed, music composition and recording. Played keyboards with feet while being suspended from the ceiling by wrists. Collaborators included Anna Carapetyan, Robert McNeill and Merideth Graves. A remote controlled device lead audience members through the venue into choreographed sequences featuring. Ms. Carapetyan, and a cleaning sequence with rag from Ms. Graves. As part of the Nachmo dance festival at Aviv in Brooklyn, NY
2014 Good Dime / performed, choreographed, composed. Movement solo performed as Dr. Evilletown alias at Actor’s Fund Art Center in Brooklyn, NY as part of Nachmo Dance Festival 2014
2012 Car Phyte Residency / weekly performance by Car Phyte. Film projections and live music using two guitars, two voices, photo theramin, drum machines, and tape loops. With collaborator Justin Hicks for a month – long residency at Goodbye Blue Monday in Brooklyn
2010 Communication Station Installation / staged, performed, and supplied original drawings for wall and flooring. As part of the Car Phyte duo with Justin Hicks, live performance with two guitars, two voices, samples and drum machines. Additional staging, prop styling and video by collaborators Breck Brunson and Rachel Mijares – ficke. As part of the Kara Walker Swing Space project in midtown NYC.
2007 Rice – in / staged and performed. Played electric bass and vocals alongside drum machines and electric violin from Jeanann Seidman. Accompanied by live painting from Justin Hicks and Dawn Meredith Smith. As part of Tripod presents at The Space in Long Island City
2004 Say Goodnight / choreographed, staged, performed. Collaborators included dancer Robert Robinson and Violinist Jeanann Seidman. Mr. Robinson opened with a choreographed sequence gradually moving towards live musicians using voice and electric Violin.. As part of Tripod Presents at WAX Brooklyn.
2002 High Mom / choreographed, staged and performed with a large couch. Performed at La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts and The Juilliard School Black Box Theatre
2001 Three Muses / choreography using pedestrians and trained dancers. Set to music by Arvo Part. Performed in studio showing and Kresge Auditorium, Interlochen, MI.
Print + Visuals:
2022 Subway to Space / public mural commission for PS 306, Brooklyn, NY
2021 Joy + Hope / mural commission for Juan Morel Campos Secondary School, Brooklyn, NY
2019 Ink drawing and graphic design for Vilde Chaye’s cassette release / logo / internet presence
2018 Photograph and layout for Cassette release by Crammm / about 100 large pin back buttons
2018 Paper Collage and ink flyer for Long Hots / Crammm show
2016 Screen print collaboration with photo by Katy Hershberger and painting but Justin Moore, for Rathaus Vinyl release.. 50 t shirts, 300 record covers
2015 permanent marker shell covers for cassettes used in Surprise Gift Me
2014 Ink drawn flyer used in set dressing Song One film starring Anne Hathaway
2013 Ink drawing and layout design for Concetta & Charlie cassette release / 100 screen printed CD sleeves
2013 Ink drawing and layout design for Youthpant cassette release
2012 Screen prints in collaboration with Vítor Teixeira for the Dr. Evilletown Dirt release on t-shirts and CD sleeves in mono and ombré colors. Run of about 150
2011 Mini books for open studios. Compilation from works spanning from 2002-2011 including Ink drawings, Collages, and lyrics
2010 Ink drawings, flyer design, and interior installation for Communication Station Installation.. collaboration sponsored by Kara Walker Swing Space
2009 Graphic design and ink drawings for the Car Phyte / Mix Tape cassette release + 150 screen prints for the CD sleeves
Discography:
Dr. E. + A. Helicopter duo / Distant Duos 2020 staubitz and waterhouse
Vilde Chaye / Demos 2019 brainplanrecords
Crammm / Live 2018 brainplanrecords
Crammm / Crammm 2017 brainplanrecords
Rathaus / Rathaus Rathaus Rathaus 2016 A Wicked Company
Rathaus / Seesaw maxi single 2015 brainplanrecords
Car Phyte / Decade Lost 2014 brainplanrecords
Rathaus / Rathaus 2014 brainplanrecords
Youth Pant / Youth Pant 2014 brainplanrecords
Car Phyte / Fail 2014 brainplanrecords
Dr. Evilletown / Dirt 2013 brainplanrecords
Car Phyte / mix tape 2010 brainplanrecords
Norris / sister in the yard 2009 industrial park records.
Grants + Awards:
2023 - Scholarship to Artichoke Spring Ambassador Program
2022 - New York City Arts in Education Roundtable Grant
2021 - Public Art Grant - Stardust Arts Foundation Houston, TX
2021 - City Artists Corps Grant Recipient (Cycle 3)
2021 - Mural Grant from the Office of Arts and Special Projects NYC
2020 - Project Grant from Ruido Noise Gallery, Austin, TX
2020 - Scholarship to the Community Word Project’s Teaching Artist Project
2020 - The Legacy Arts Project Professional Development Grant
2010 - Kara Walker Swing Space participant
2005 - The Space (Long Island City) Residency
2004 - Williamsburg Art Nexus Residency
2001-2003 - Scholarship to The Juilliard School
1999 - Scholarship to American Dance Festival
1998-2001 - Scholarship to Interlochen Arts Academy
1998 - Scholarship to Texas Youth Orchestra
Publications:
2023- Co-Lab Projects #bitres Guest Artist for October
2021 - USF news / Group show at University of Southern Florida Women’s and gender studies
2021 - cookandbombd.co.uk / Distant Duos review with Dr. E + Anna as the #2 pick
2020 - Austin American Statesmen / Group Show feature for Ruido Noise Gallery
2020 - meatsheetfanzine.com / Distant Duos Dr. E + Anna review
2020 - The Wire Magazine UK / Distant Duos feature
2020 - Clash Magazine / Distant Duos Review
2018 - BTR today / Crammm concert review
2019 - Razorcake Magazine / Crammm review
2018 - Landscapes Volume 4 / Crammm feature
2018 - Razorcake Magazine / Crammm review
2017 - Terminal Boredom / Rathaus review
2016 - Life is A Rip Off: The Complete Book by John Olson (thirdman books) Dr. Evilletown review
2016 - WFMU / record of the day: Rathaus
2016 - Clocktower (at Pioneer Works) Tapemania #3 / interview
2016 - Paper Magazine / Goodnight Day Care feature
2013 - Maximum Rock & Roll / Dr. Evilletown Review
2013 - Cassette Gods / Dr. Evilletown review
Outreach:
Through partnerships with Wingspan Arts, LEAP, BRIC, Reelworks, the Magic Box, New York Enrichment Group, and the Center for Educational Innovation, conducted in-school residencies to various public school students in visual arts, dance, and music since 2004; educating students of all ages in all five NYC Burroughs, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. In the Spring of 2002 gave a free public performance demo at La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts. In the Fall of 2019, held free, site - specific performances in three different pop- up NYC locations for the 9/11 memorial. Free community - driven installation, Act / Remember in support of black lives for the National Arts Drive June 2020. Dr. Evilletown has erected numerous pop-up, site- specific public collaborations including Surprise Gift Me (October 2015) a brainplanrecords scavenger hunt, Everyone Hates Me So What (September 2018), and Everyone Hates Me So What II (February 2020). Walls for change school mural partnership 2021.