A (RE)EMERGENT MIRACLE ON 99TH STREET

A new work and a new theatrical entity emerged this evening at El Barrio's ArtsSpace on East 99th Street. (Re)EMERGENT THEATRE presented the premiere of GETTING CLOSE, an ensemble production by men who are returning to the world after decades of incarceration in prison. It was an intimate and compelling theatre piece where these men share their experience in prison through a lens of immediacy in which the actors assume various roles as they help each other to initiate their own narratives.

Artistic Director Clare Hammoor and Managing Director Ashley Hamilton might be described as theatrical visionaries who have made prisons their domain of professional development over the past several years. They have pursued a dream of establishing a creative space to assist former prisoners return to the world through collaborative interaction and creation to better understand themselves reemerging in a world now distant and strange.

Having gone through a process of collaboration, the actors reveal uncanny emotional strength and maturity, but we are also struck by the courage it takes to endure their world and to share it with us.

The ensemble, Akael Adil, Juan Carlos 'Johnny' Hincapie, Robert Mason Lindsay, Robert Pollock, and Juan 'Broadway' Rodriguez played themselves and other inmates and visitors to the prison as they described the events that connected them and their world. I was struck by the distinctiveness of their voices, and the depth of their tenacity and bravery. The thread of the narrative is compelling. We see and hear the world through their experiences, and we begin to have some understanding of the very difficult journey each has taken to reach this moment of sharing with an audience.

The stories include someone imprisoned unjustly for decades, and another convicted and serving 25 years before he was completely absolved of all guilt, a devout and devoted sensitive and lonely man, and an artistic, talented individual whose music kept him from going insane, to a man deeply devoted to his family, and the dramatic story of a mother who learned of her son's suicide in prison during her attempt to visit him. This a climactic moment as the actor reveals how many times in the silence of his own terror, he might have been that young man.

There are four major narratives that also are populated by vignettes of struggles and encounters of the vicissitudes of a life of imprisonment.  A fifth, unspoken narrative, was the musical voice of Robert Mason Lindsay, whose eloquent musical narrative permeated the evening like a rich tapestry.  His sound was simple, direct, expressive, and clearly heartfelt. Also sharing this musical sensibility was Robert Pollock, who used his guitar to meld with the bass, and the two provide the immediacy of a musical color and sensibility that is often stunning in their candor and clarity. Mr. Lindsay writes this is the first time the world has heard his music. It was well worth waiting for.

Assisting these men to find the coherence and uniqueness of the narrative was writer and storyteller Kate Meisner. The result is a profound moment in history and possibly the creation of a whole new process and genre to assist past prisoners to understand themselves and find a new voice as they explore a new world.

ReEMERGENT THEATRE has achieved a sensitive and compelling entry into a world that needs more of this kind of concern and support achieving an original identity in our culture.

                                                                                                     ...Wizardmuse

CLAYTON PATTERSON PRESENTS 2017 ACKER AWARDS AT 80 ST.MARKS THEATRE

With noted Avantgarde-artist Clayton Patterson serving as Presenter, the 2017 Acker Awards Ceremony was warmly acclaimed by a packed audience of fellow artists and arts enthusiasts. It was more of a happening than a ceremony.  Initiated on the West Coast, and named after novelist Kathy Acker, the East Coast Acker Awards in 2013 was founded by Clayton as a means of documenting the extraordinary artistic activities in the lower east side of New York. Clayton champions and celebrates the leading edge of artistic development that has long been identified with the East Village.

The Acker Awards are named after novelist Kathy Acker, who personified the risk-taking and uncompromising commitment of avant-garde artists. A commemorative box containing original art works, replicas, and mementos created by the 40 winners along with their bios serves as the award icon handed to each recipient in the spirit of Oscars, Emmys, and other artistic awards aimed at celebrating excellence within creative communities. This award provides an enduring context for noticing and documenting the extensive creative contributions of the East Village artists.

Flanking Clayton Patterson's stage presentation was the celebrated Phoebe Legere,  musician and multiform artist, serving as MC of this event that had elements of spontaneous combustion. The energy of the artists and the audience was palpable, immediate and free spirited.

The evening was laced with impromptu performances, witty and insightful comments from Phoebe and Clayton, with an air of celebration in understanding that this event helps create and maintain community among a wide range of arts and generations from young and aspiring to venerate veterans who have established identities and domains through many struggles and challenges.

Many in the audience were former winners of the Acker Awards, suggesting that Clayton Patterson's vision of establishing a strong sense of community through the awards has become manifest,  It is a monumental achievement to put together these awards, prepare the  commemorative boxes,  hire a hall, advertise and stage the event. Kudos to Clayton Patterson.

Even more impressive of this community of village artists is the diversity of practices, preferences, and artistic collaborations/creations spanning almost seven decades of explosive creativity. At one point when Lincoln Anderson and his work with The Villager was announced, Clayton took a moment to remind us that the Villager is on-line, and that its presence on the Internet makes it equal to all other publications in visibility. He noted that this publication is a record of the work of the community, urging that everyone add to the record by commenting on articles and postings.

This was an awards evening worth noting for the city, for the artists represented by these awards are carving out new terrain that resonates with change and the creation of new work.

... Oscar W

ACKER RECIPIENTS 2017

COUNTESS ALEX ZAPAK, "POLITICAL NOTICE"
NANCY WOLFE  &  ETHAN MINSKER, "2016 VIDEO OF CEREMONY"
NATANIA NUNUBIZNEZ,  "CARTOON ILLUSTRATOR"
SARAH SCHULMAN, "ACTIVIST PLAYWRIGHT"
CARLITO CASTILLO, "ART & SCIENCE OF BOXING"
FRIDAY JONES, "TATTOOING"
MICHELLE MYLES, "TATTOOING"
MARI-CLAIRE CHARBA, "THEATER ACTOR"
MARILYN ROBERTS, "THEATER ACTOR"
BARBARA KAHN, "THEATER ACTOR"
LOIS KAGAN MINGUS, "THEATER ACTOR"
CHARLES SCHICK, "ART"
REGINA BARTKOFF, "ART"
FELICE ROSSER, "MUSIC"
CHERYL PYLE, "MUSIC"
EDEN BROWER & JOHN HENEGHAN, "MUSIC"
LINCOLN ANDERSON, "COMMUNITY MEDIA"
LUCKY LAWLER, "COMMUNITY MEDIA/ART"
CHARLES MINGUS 3RD, "ART"
THERESA BYRNES, "ART"
LESLIE LOWE, "ART"
VICTORIA ALEXANDER, "ART"
AGATHE SNOW, "ART"
ANTONY ZITO, "ART"
JANE DICKERSON, "ART"
ISTVAN KANTOR, "ART"
JENNIFER BLOWDRYER, "WRITER"
SHELLEY MARLOW, "WRITER"
MAGIE DOMINIC, "WRITER"
VERONICA VERA, "SEXUAL EVOLUTIONARY"
CANDIDA ROYALLE, "FEMNIST PORN GENRE"
TOYO TSUCHIYA, "PHOTOGRAPHY"
JACKIE RUDIN, "PHOTOGRAPHY"
MARY CAMPBELL & VIV VASSAR, "PERFORMANCE ART COLLECTIVE ORGANIZER"
WENDY SCRIPPS, "COMMUNITY SUPPORT"
CARTER EMMART, "SCIENCE"
COUNTESS ALEX, "TRANS MEDIA STORY TELLER"
ANNE HANAVAN, "VIDEO"
KEITH PATCHEL, "COMPOSER, PRODUCER"