awilda rodriguez lora – barak adé soleil

Thank you Baraka and all the artists that have been gathering with the intention, desire and exploration for the Re-Framing of the creative/collective process that is Re-Frame: A Gathering Project.

Currently living in Puerto Rico and sharing via skype and phone with Baraka and the artists. Time moves ever so quickly and so dynamic with all the creative energy flowing in all directions.

I made the decision after 12 years living in the US where I was able to study, train, work, collaborate, create and perform in a interdisciplinary ways to return what i call the beginning. A place where discovery was the ingredient and the unknown was scary. My spirit is one of constant movement and the decision to return to the place where it all began, Puerto Rico has been an experience of both many discoveries and challenges.

The opportunity to co-facilitate this project with Baraka de Soleil is a unique and exciting experience. I bring with me the passion and commitment to develop and promote spaces where discovery and risk are core values of the process for creation.

Based on the “Law of two feet” that is crucial for the creative process for collaborations that is the Open Space Technology(OST) framework used in this project, artists walk into a space of discovery. I thank them all for entering the space of Rumble Arts Center and that later on will continue the flow to Links Hall.

The days are passing by and the enthusiasm continues to built up. Thanks again to all the supporters of this project who have donated, spread the word and shared their thoughts with us.

See you all December 5th when I will be arriving to enter the space as both a facilitator and an artist.

We still have 28 days to achieve our goal please continue supporting this project. See you all at the Gathering.

paz,
awilda rodriguez lora

Across cultures. Across disciplines. Engaging thoughtful discussions within the community of artists, neighbors, anyone witnessing. Inspiring collaborations. Listening. Creating consciousness surrounding the beauty & insights from the creative process…

Facilitated by award-winning performance artist Baraka de Soleil & co-facilitated by multidisciplinary artist Awilda Rodriguez Lora Re-Frame: A Gathering is a two-fold communal workshop for artists at variant stages of creative development. We want to provide a sustainable space for active witnessing, supportive feedback and rigorous crafting AND a laboratory for experimentation through interdisciplined explorations and cross-cultural discussions. Re-Frame: A Gathering focuses on the ‘practice of process’ – what is discovered in the act of making work is valuable and should be experienced as well, by other artists, by the larger community.

http://www.indiegogo.com/project/share/43168

Baraka de Soleil and Awilda Rodriguez Lora initially met in Chicago. He was curating a unique multidisciplinary series “Studies n Black” for Links Hall and she produced an award-winning film STILL BLACK: a portrait of black transmen that premiered in Chicago. Since meeting, they have worked together on numerous creative endeavors including S’Kin Deep and most recently co-facilitated Agua/Tierra: A Listening Project in Panama in 2010.

Re-Frame: A Gathering is an initiative of D UNDERBELLY, a network of artists of color, seeking to create a communal space for rigorous experimentation and investigation of an expansive performance aesthetic. One that can serve as a model for creative process within community that can adapt and shift to various areas throughout the country & internationally. Through both invitation to select artists within the experimental art community and an open call, we will seek out a diverse group of 7 -10 with wide-range of disciplines who have a creative lineage (how they have been making work), a piece to ‘excavate’ and a desire to be part of a contemporary practice. Re-Frame: A Gathering will start with the artistic community of Chicago.

Our current vision:

The workshop process will begin in November with weekly Re-Frame sessions where Baraka will lead artists participants through a series of techniques in order to cultivate: communal consciousness around witnessing & offering feedback, excavation of themes/pieces brought by each individual artist and potential collaborative groupings. This leads to the beginning of December where Awilda will join the process as co-facilitator, to take artists through an intensive journey towards deepening the practice of the developing works. Mid-December at A Gathering with the larger community, artist participants will share their developing work, engage in conversations and share food for thought and body!

Re-Frame: A Gathering’ Key Objectives

To provide:

– a reduced cost or free opportunity for artist participants.

– a platform for creative process that can be molded to whatever communities it travels to….

– a unique opportunity for experimentation, to ‘dig deep’ & try things out with developing work or already-created work that may need ‘re-framing’.

To support:

– artists at whatever stage in their career.

– exchange and community building

– sustainability for the active creative process

To enhance:

– a multidisciplinary network of artists within the Chicago experimental aesthetic community and beyond.

– an expansive & diversified cross-pollination of collaborative possibilities.

– visibility for process-driven models with thoughtful intercultural community engagement.

Funds from this campaign will support the vision in multiple ways beyond the costs associated with creating work. We deeply believe that with your support, Re-Frame: A Gathering will impact not only the artist participants, facilitators and community of witnesses, but the larger discussion on the value of the creative process.

THE IMPACT

For Re-Frame: A Gathering, we are seeking to raise funds to support space rental costs, materials for the workshop process, honorarium for the artist participants and facilitators involved.

More specifically if we reach:

$1500, this amount will cover rental & production costs associated with the space; both for workshop process & performance showings
$2000, in addition to covering rental, will support any materials for the workshop process, ‘bare-bones’ production elements for the showing & travel for one artist facilitator
$3000, in addition to the above, secures a no cost opportunity for all artist participants and provide honorarium for both artist facilitators &
$4000, in addition the above funds, will provide honorarium for each of the artist participant

In alignment with this campaign, we are working to ensure Re-Frame: A Gatheringhappens, even with the smallest of funds including:

soliciting in-kind contributions from organizations to reduce the cost for rental of space.
box office contributions from A Gathering‘s three showings.
barter/trade of services in order to promote/market the event.
based on amount raised, seek financial investments from artists who wish to participate in the process.
re-configuring the model so that it will reduce costs but still honor the artists & the process.
cooking meals that can be purchased at the showings.

THE EXCHANGE

We want to you to know that we value whichever amount you pledge. In exchange for your support, Baraka de Soleil, Awilda Rodriguez Lora, artists participants & D UNDERBELLY will acknowledge you through the program, online, via phone, with hand-made art, original designs, through complimentary tickets, invitations to A Gathering and future projects. You’ll notice on our perks list what kind of acknowledgement each tier of funding support will garner.

Other Ways You Can Help

If in Chicago, come to A Gathering. Join us for food, art, dialogue and community building….this will further support the artists & future opportunities for more gatherings…check out our site: http://reframeagathering.blogspot.com/ for the updates. Current dates December 16th – 18th, 2011. A gathering will offer a unique experience with up to 3 different artists sharing their process each nite.

Spread the word by putting this campaign on your facebook, twitter or other social network site.

Email blast your networks.

And be part of the discussion: What has been meaningful to you as an artist in the creative process?

http://reframeagathering.blogspot.com/2011/10/re-frame-gathering-discussion.html#comments

Whether you may consider yourself an artist or not, your thoughts will be appreciated and expand the discussion on why people should support the creative process of artists.