Suzanne Bocanegra: Valley

Judy Garland rocketed to international acclaim as Dorothy in the musical film Wizard of Oz (1939), and she continues to be remembered as an iconic Hollywood star. But years in the limelight took their toll on Garland and by the time she was cast in the film Valley of the Dolls (1967), she was navigating physical and mental health challenges. She would be dismissed from the project in its earliest stages, with the wardrobe tests serving as the only surviving evidence that she was ever part of the film. That footage captures rare, vulnerable human moments of Garland as she performs in front of the camera.

In the eight-channel installation Valley, artist Suzanne Bocanegra reimagines Garland’s wardrobe tests by inviting eight women to replicate Garland’s unease and self-conscious actions, melding their own personas with that of the actor. Featured in the work are poet Anne Carson; writer, performer, and activist Tanya Selvaratnam; actor Kate Valk; vocalist Alicia Hall Moran; choreographer and dancer Deborah Hay; artist Joan Jonas; ballet dancer Wendy Whelan; and artist Carrie Mae Weems—many of whom have performed or exhibited at the Walker.

The large-scale installation offers a poignant and meditative experience, as each performer’s likeness is overlaid with Garland’s, creating a sense of connection and intimacy across time.