2021 Spring Season Recap
This spring, CPR welcomed audiences virtually and, finally, in-person, to experience inspiring public programs, with a season focused around artistic process and collaboration, and creating the future we want to see. The presence and participation of artists, audiences, staff, and supporters brought a sense of hope and community to our otherwise digital and distanced world.
If you missed an event or want to revisit your favorites, we’ve put archival videos all in one place so you can take a look back!
In addition to the programs below, CPR presented three gatherings of the Performance Philosophy Reading Group with Antonio Ramos (February 17), Rajni Shah (April 5), and Ni’Ja Whitson (June 23); Open Studios: For Black Folx, curated by J. Bouey with angel edwards, Jayson P. Smith, and Janae Williams/juh weems/fatblackclit (April 27); Londs Reuter and stormy budwig: CONFERENCE CALL as part of Sunday Salon (May 2, 9, 16); and a co-presentation with Independent Dance for an ongoing process, How to Be Afraid?, by mayfield brooks and Mary Pearson (February 12 and May 28).
Artist Talk: Leslie Cuyjet
July 11, 2021 on Zoom
In this Artist Talk, Leslie Cuyjet discusses their current practice, including adapting their live performance Talented (which premiered at CPR in January 2020) for film. The program includes a conversation between Cuyjet and her parents, as she explores influences for the work including childhood videos and family history, as well as premiere excerpts of the in-progress film, Talented.
mayfield brooks: Whale Fall II
Commercial for the Whale Fall Oracle Help Line
on view at CPR and online June 12–20, 2021
As part of their multi-part installation Whale Fall II and week-long technical residency at CPR, mayfield brooks and cinematographer Suzi Sadler filmed a commercial for the Whale Fall Oracle Help Line, where, for four consecutive nights, the Oracle took calls from the window of CPR to help people decompose the bullshit in their life. This commercial played 24/7 in the window of CPR for the duration of the installation. The Oracle’s nightly sessions are also archived on CPR’s Instagram.
CPR’s 2021 Spring Benefit
Honoring CPR Artists-in-Residence, Past, Present, and Future
June 2, 2021 on Zoom
In celebration of 10 years of CPR’s Artist-in-Residence and Technical Residency programs, which have supported over 100 residencies since 2012, we gathered virtually with special presentations and performances including cocktails by jess pretty (AiR 2019), a line dance by Emily Wexler (AiR 2015, 2016), an astrological reading by Deborah Conton (Dee Spark Tarot) (AiR 2019), a song by Tatyana Tenenbaum (AiR 2017 / Technical Resident 2017), and performances by Rashaun Mitchell (AiR 2012, 2013, 2018) + Silas Riener (AiR 2018) and Sacha Yanow (Technical Resident 2018). The evening was hosted by Stuart B Meyers (AiR 2020, 2021), and featured a dance party with DJ Krunk Pony, plus special appearances by CPR Resident Artists Past & Present.
Studio Visit: The Black Femme Artist Residency with Ayana Evans and Tsedaye Makonnen
May 21, 2021 on Zoom
As part of the inaugural Black Femme Artist Residency, curated by Douglas Everett Turner, CPR hosted a Studio Visit with artists Ayana Evans and Tsedaye Makonne. Turner had a conversation with the artists live from their studio at The Wassaic Project, discussing their collaborative artistic practice, two-week performance residency, and multi-venue performance exhibition Which Bridges to Cross and Which to Burn, including an impromptu live performance after technical difficulties meant that we couldn’t share their archival footage.
Jordan Demetrius Lloyd and Daniel Kersh: Endless Wonders
on view online April 5–19, 2021
Endless Wonders was a digital gallery featuring a long-form, experimental video Endless Wonders (2021), which captures time spent by Jordan Demetrius Lloyd and Daniel Kersh at CPR in November 2020. Embarking on a journey of light, sound, movement, color, and texture, Lloyd and Kersh transform the space into a container of infinite possibility and research. Embracing stillness and patience, the video warps three long days of footage into an immersive virtual experience. In the video, Kersh uses abstract video artwork as a series of projected installations that paint the walls and act as a canvas for Lloyd’s movement explorations.
Open Studios: Deep Dive: The Creative Process
curated by Cruz Control Collective
March 23, 2021 on Zoom
Deep Dive: The Creative Process brought together artists jess pretty, Ishmael Houston-Jones, and Johnnie Cruise Mercer, along with curators Cruz Control Collective, to share, experiment with, discuss, and question their creative processes, and what they are (or aren’t) making right now, revealing the creative process without an emphasis on a product.
Garba In The House: Parijata Dance Company’s 21st Anniversary Celebration
February 27, 2021 on Zoom
Co-presented by Parijata Dance Company and CPR, Garba In The House celebrated choreographer Parijat Desai's 21 years of project-based dancemaking, and building a future rooted in community, with a digital space to gather, share plans, dance, reconnect with old friends, and make some new ones. The program featured freestyle dance breaks, lessons for the "Garba Slide," hangout spaces, and guest speakers Anjal Chande (Artistic Director, Soham Dance Space, Chicago), BJ Evans (Senior Producer, Performing Arts, BRIC), and Remi Harris (Programs Manager, CPR).