Pivot Arts presents CHARGED SPACES/CHANGING BODIES
Performances in Historic Sites
Works by Anna Martine Whitehead, Carole McCurdy, and Sara Zalek

Co-Curated by Julieanne Ehre and Peter Taub
October 11, 12 and 13 at 7:30pm and October 14 at 4:00pm

Pivot Arts presents a “performance tour” in historic buildings in conjunction with the Open House Chicago weekend. Three works, “Notes on Territory” by Anna Martine Whitehead, “Five Stud Stud” by Carole McCurdy and “Les Chanteuses du Rien” by Sara Zalek will take place in spaces ranging from a historic board room to a boxing ring and swimming pool at Lawrence House. Audiences will be led by a guide throughout the spaces.

NOTES ON TERRITORY
Written, Choreographed, and Performed by Anna Martine Whitehead
Damon Locks, Sound; Giau Truong, Lighting

Notes On Territory uses movement, sound, video, and text to address “containment architectures” (prisons, cathedrals, dungeons, and homes) and ask: What is the prison? What is the nature of freedom? The piece considers known architectural shapes and spiritual traditions such as crosses and arches (squares and domes, lines and circles) in relation to the hole – a space which is only known by the wall that surrounds it – as a means of exploring the rich tradition of Black liberation practice.

Notes on Territory was developed in part during Pivot Arts’ Incubator Program and has had works-in-progress showings at: ACRE and Ragdale in 2017, Elevate Chicago Dance 2017, Velocity Dance Center in 2018, Whitman College Spring Studio Series 2018, Pivot Arts Festival 2018. Generous support has been provided by Chicago Dancemakers Forum; Headlands Center for the Arts; Daring Dances at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; and Pivot Arts.

LES CHANTEUSES DU RIEN
Created and performed by Sara Zalek, Elaine Lemieux, Hanna Brock

Les Chanteuses du Rien employs genres of classical scores, experimental opera, improvised sound, expanded cinema, and Butoh dance to explore the lobby and swimming pool space at Lawrence House. The performers are a trio of tricksters who desire to communicate intimately with an audience while revealing hidden histories and seeking to release their fears in an embrace.

Sara Zalek, Elaine Lemieux and Hanna Brock have been making work together for two years in Chicago, including Chicago Cultural Center, Edgar Miller Legacy Studio, Silent Funny, Ragdale Foundation and the Hungry Brain. They have been supported by Chicago Dancemakers Forum, the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, the City of Chicago, New England Foundation for the Arts, and the Ragdale Foundation.

FIVE STUD STUD
Created by Carole McCurdy and co-performed with Jon Poindexter

Five Stud Stud explores the spectrum between violence and tenderness. The performance is both intense and absurd, taking place in an installation of inflatable punching bags. Versions of this piece have been performed at Ragdale Foundation; Dogleach/Hume; Comfort Station; OuterSpace; and Defibrillator.

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Charged Spaces/Changing Bodies is supported in part by the Alphawood Foundation, FLATSstudio, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the Institute for Cultural Affairs, and the MacArthur Funds for Art and Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. Photo above of Notes on Territory by William Frederking.

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Tags: Anna Martine Whitehead, Carole McCurdy, Charged Spaces/Changing Bodies, Chicago, Edgewater, Julieanne Ehre, Peter Taub, Pivot Arts, Sara Zalek