COMMUNITY ART(WORK) < holding space for creation >
I understand art’s essential purpose as connection - a conversation between maker and viewer bridged by the art itself. I’m interested in inviting the viewer to partake in this conversation not just in observation, but as an active participant in creation as well. Exploring this idea beyond my personal work took on a whole life of its own when I found the nonprofit art world. Through co-founding Young Bloods Collective (YBC), it has been my honor to contribute to making spaces for creative growth and expanding the threads of conversation for my fellow creatives and our community as a whole.
TEARING TRANSFORMATION PERFORMANCE PIECE / we invited audience members to write/draw an internal aspect of themselves that no longer served them, to then be released through the tearing and casting of their papers in a ritual of communal catharsis / afterwards, I collected these paper pieces to utilize as a medium in creating Paper Alchemy artwork
Performed in Steamboat Springs, CO for Palettes: A Feast for the Senses 2016 event at SSAC The Depot / Creative Lead/Performer in collaboration with Benjamin Bentele / Photos via George Fargo
"Tearing Transformation" performance piece at Palettes: A Feast for the Senses 2016
audio creative collaborator for "Tearing Transformation", Benjamin Bentele
audience members bringing their words/drawings of release forward for communal catharsis
tearing and release ritual of communal catharsis
gathering paper pieces of audience's words/drawings of release to be used in Paper Alchemy artwork
YBC HAUNTED FAIRYTALE / an immersive, theatrical haunted house dance performance inspired by Grimm fairy tales created through the collaboration of YBC volunteers, local Routt County dancers, writers, and businesses
Performed in Steamboat Springs, CO at Library Hall, Halloween 2018 / Producer, Set/Costume Design, Performer / Photos via Danielle Zimmerer
HAUNTED FAIRYTALE guide performers Megan Wykhuis & Sista Luna
Hansel/Gretel performer Jettie Shin
Hansel/Gretel dance by Jettie Shin to Björk's "Human Behavior"
Red Riding Hood & The Wolf performer Meg Murphy / wolf head created by Megan Westerkamp
Red Riding Hood & The Wolf dance by Meg Murphy to David Starfire's "Jungle (ft Patrick D)"
Rapunzel bone crown head piece created by Sista Luna
Rapunzel aerialist Heidi Miller
Rapunzel aerial performance by Heidi Miller to Billie Eilish's "you should see me in a crown"
Dark Faire performer Nicole LeDuc
Dark Faire dance by Nicole LeDuc to CocoRosie's "Smokey Taboo"
YBC SPEAK: PERFORMANCES FROM WOMEN OF THE YAMPA VALLEY / a traveling, hour long performance written and performed by women living in the Yampa Valley. Performances feature a variety of styles including: spoken word, slam poetry, stand-up comedy and original songs. SPEAK is a telling of the female experience in all its humor and tragedy in the modern, mountain world. Past SPEAK themes include - 2018: Competition vs Collaboration, 2019: Building Bridges and 2020: Power & Leadership
Performed in Hayden, Oak Creek, Steamboat Springs & virtually at various venues 2017-2020 / Producer of 2019 and 2020 performances / Photos via Danielle Zimmerer
(most) of SPEAK 2019 cast
SPEAK Creator Emily Waldren
SPEAK performer Tera Johnson / 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
SPEAK performer B Torres / 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
SPEAK performer Erin Darby Gesell / 2019
SPEAK performer Kim Erickson / 2018
SPEAK performers Jess Gantt-Shafer and Megan Wykhuis / 2019, 2020
SPEAK performer Therese Bartholomew / 2019, 2020
SPEAK performer Olivia Hobson / 2017, 2018
SPEAK performer Jess Gantt-Shafer / 2019, 2020
YBC HAUNTED DEEP / an immersive, theatrical haunted house dance performance inspired by monster mermaids and siren mythology created through the collaboration of YBC volunteers, local Routt County dancers, writers, and the Chief Theater
Performed in Steamboat Springs, CO at the Chief Theater over Halloween weekend 2017 / Producer, Set/Costume Designer, Writer, Performer / Photos via Danielle Zimmerer
HAUNTED DEEP guide performer Vivian Boza
jellyfish created by Katie Thornton
Siren dance performance by Jasmir Bellydance Troupe
Jasmir Bellydance Troupe
Jasmir Bellydance Troupe
IMMERSION INSTILLATION PIECE / an instillation experience meant to provide a quiet space for participants to pause, reflect and contribute to the instillation as a whole / Instillation incorporated an element to appeal to each of the five senses: SIGHT - large conté crayon drawings, SOUND - silence, provided by earplugs, TASTE - salt (plain in gallery, with cocktail at event), SMELL - “Slot Canyon” aperitif cocktail created by A.j. Carrillo, TOUCH - salt block sculpture and drawing materials for participants
Created for SSAC’s 2015 Palettes: a Feast for the Senses event and gallery exhibition / Creative Lead/Artist in collaboration with A.j. Carrillo
Gallery showcase of "Immersion" for Palettes 2015 / conté crayon drawing, salt block carving, salt for tasting, earplugs to provide silent experience
"Immersion" instillation space for 2015 Palettes: a Feast for the Senses event / conté crayon drawings, paper, drawing supplies, earplugs / audience was invited to enter the instillation space, use earplugs to support inward focus, and contribute to the installation with their own drawings, thoughts, writings, etc.
"The Slot Canyon" Aperitif created by mixologist , A.j. Carrillo for Palettes 2015 event / taste component of the 5 senses "Immersion" instillation