FREEDOM OF INFORMATION in PORTLAND Dec 31

ARTISTS ACROSS THE NATION PERFORM freedom of information 2008:

A PERFORMANCE/PROTEST/RITUAL IN RESPONSE TO THE WARS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ

 

DECEMBER 31, 2008........LOCATION: VARIOUS, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

IN PORTLAND: TAHNI HOLT AT PERFORMANCE WORKS NW ~ FREE

In response to the continuing U.S. led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, choreographer Miguel Gutierrez has invited artists from across the country to perform freedom of information 2008: a 24 hour performance/protest/ritual of continuous movement improvisation performed while blindfolded and ear-plugged, which is intended as a contemplative act of solidarity with those displaced by the wars.

This action takes place over the last 24 hours of 2008, from midnight to midnight of December 31st. It ends with the ringing in of the New Year. 

At present, there are 29 artists participating in freedom of information 2008. Each artist will perform the action in her/his respective state and during the 24 hours that correspond to December 31st in his or her time zone. Miguel Gutierrez originally performed freedom of information alone on December 31, 2001, in response to the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. This time, inviting artists from across the country creates a nationwide, synchronous event.

freedom of information 2008 involves staying in one room for the duration of the event. Moving continuously for 24 hours throughout the space of her/his choosing in a sensory-deprived state, the performer meditates on the dislocation and disorientation of those who do not have the basic right of being safe for the duration of a single day, who instead must be continuously on the move because of the threat of violence.

Performance Works is very honored to have Tahni Holt inhabit our space

at 4625 SE 67th

for the following event which takes place for 24 hours

on Dec. 31, 2008

 

freedom of information 2008 is free and open to the public in each of the venues that the artists have selected. Throughout the 24 hours, people are invited to come and go as they please, watching the participating artist as they attempt to fulfill the simple but rigorous demands of this action.

The event has been initiated by Miguel Gutierrez, a choreographer/performer based in Brooklyn, NY. Gutierrez is an award-winning artist whose evening-length pieces tour internationally. For more information on his work go to: www.miguelgutierrez.org

Gutierrez will continue to identify artists to participate in this action throughout the month of December.

As of this press release here are the participating artists for freedom of information 2008:

Alabama – Rhea Speights

Alaska – Kyli Kleven

Arizona – Aileen Mapes

California – Jesse Hewit

Colorado – Lily Brown-Johnson

Connecticut – David Dorfman

Florida – Heather Maloney

Georgia – Diana Crum

Hawaii – Brianna Skellie

Illinois – Marissa Perel

Iowa – Amanda Hamp

Kentucky – Ben Asriel

Maryland – Sharon Mansur

Massachusetts – Jesse Zaritt

Michigan – Amy Chevasse

Minnesota – Morgan Thorson

Montana – Harmony Wolfe

New Hampshire – Gregory Holt

New Jersey – Joshua Bisset

New York – Miguel Gutierrez

North Carolina – Janice Lancaster

Ohio – Lena Lauer

Oregon – Tahni Holt

Pennsylvania – Jung-Eun Kim

Vermont – Selene Colburn

Virginia – Zap McConnell

Washington – Tonya Lockyer

Washington, D.C. – Maida Withers

West Virginia – Katherine Ferrier

Read more about the project at the Dance Theater Workshop blog.

Tahni Holt photo: from Information Studio / Daniel Sharp