Impromptu Drawing of US : We Are *Almost All Immigrants is a participatory drawing and improvisational music event, based on the game of Musical Chairs—but in this activity, no one is ever left out. The performance was created in real time by the participants: those feeling marginalized and those in solidarity with the marginalized. We transformed our American flag into a flag of US. The Impromptu Drawing is a meditation on unity and sharing in which we break down imaginary boundaries that divide us while we create together playfully. Everyone was welcome!
view Impromptu Drawing of US : We Are *Almost All Immigrants – 47 seconds
The event took place at the studio of artist Connie Bostic in Fairview, NC, on Saturday, March 18.
Participants brought a brunch dish and musical instruments to share. Drawing supplies were provided. We met around a large table that had been painted to represent the American flag. There, we ate our meal together, after which we drew each other’s faces—and faces on top of faces—to the stop-and-go rhythm of the emerging music we created together simultaneously.
No experience with drawing or playing an instrument was required for this activity. We did this together and helped each other out. Three languages that we all understand—food, drawing, and music—guided us through the process and brought us together.
^ Intimate, warm, lit space that hosted US. Thank you Connie Bostic!
^ image of the flag with faces on it is a representation of the idea done in collaboration with my daughter Sophia Arbelaez prior to the event
LINKS:
An interview on the project with Victor Palomino on La Radio, Asheville FM – then scroll down to the “listen” playlist, then hit PLAY. This is located right above La Radio’s Blog.
2017 on exhibit at Weizenblatt Gallery at Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, N.C.
2017 on exhibit at Flex Space Gallery at Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, N.C.
2017 performed and created at Connie Bostic’s Art Studio, Fairview, N.C.
10 x 10, A Table – an earlier version of this event/performance >
< Flag of US – a current version of this event/performance