PROFILE
(^116) | APRIL 2016
to create were these performance labs, places right in the
landscape, reintroducing Detroit back to Detroit. There are so
many creative people in these cities, and we tend to become
so siloed, so this was a way for you to bring your city back.
Tell us about the residency at Shreveport.
I’m working with many social service agencies in Shreveport
who work with kids, battered women and families, people
with developmental disabilities, folks with HIV/AIDS, but this
doesn’t mean that each one doesn’t have a creative spark.
As artists, we’re integrating collectively with the residents.
We are the voice for those who haven’t been heard. Poetic
X is talking one-on-one with residents for each individual
spoken word piece. The Shreveport Art Council went door-
to-door to connect with the agencies. So, based on my
outreach in Detroit, I think this is a sort of natural step.
Describe how you conceived the idea of the bead blankets
and how they will be part of the AS IS performance.
Blankets represent shelter, warmth, protection and security.
Working with local artists, we held public “bead-a-thons” to
create the blankets, working with the clients of the social
service agencies, and each piece became the story of
that individual. In fact, the first part of the program is titled
Blanket Statement. In the March 20th performance, they will
contribute their own spoken words accompanied by violin,
all creating the sound of the heartbeat of these residents.
We want to honor all that they have brought to the project,
to make everyone feel relevant.
Partnership is such a buzzword. Didn’t we all learn about
sharing and collaboration in kindergarten? How do we
relearn it?
We have to find a way to integrate people, to be comfortable
with one another’s presence and being present; it’s critical
to building character. When prejudice enters—boys don’t
do this and girls don’t do that—this segregates and pulls us
apart. We all have to find a way to welcome this world with
compassion. If we all were responsible for one hour a week
to do social service, we’d all be living in a different world.
That said, if we all had an hour of silence everyday, we’d
know ourselves way better. We’re so consumed with noise! I
spend a lot of time in solitude because I want to be as clear
and reflective as I possibly can. It’s important to how I live in
this world.
soundsuitshop.com
above
Cave stares out from behind
a beaded blanket such as those
he will use alongside his famous
Soundsuits in the performance.