Inviting the Lands to Shape Us – Creation Lab is a Rotinonhsión:ni space to explore the creative process guided by land. It’s exploratory, collaborative, and restorative, a place to explore uncharted creative territory and embodied mindfulness, inner and outer landscapes, to play and reflect.
Talking Earth Studio & Gardens is becoming a site for Indigenous Performance Research. Curated and facilitated by Artistic Director and multidisciplinary artist, Santee Smith. She says, “Sharing time and space with creators in “call & response” within the space of Talking Earth Studio & Gardens has been epic and essential. Lab goals are to consciously move in the direction of forever/nature, being grounded in earth/clay, embody the elemental, explore personal and collective transformation with land and fellow Lab artists as witness. Each morning starts with Embodied Practice. Week 1 the focus is on grounding to earth, clay work: hand-building, designing with earth, sites offerings and activations. Week 2 delves into individual and group explorations, specific land-based creation tasks. The Lab is communal and self-directed all while sharing food, practice, talks and laughs.”
The Lab leaders include: Katsitsionni Fox (hand-building pottery from August 2-5), Santee Smith (embodying land practices, Indigenous dramaturgy) including guest speakers. The Lab features:
– Clay work: hand building pottery, outdoor firing experience, body in clay explorations
– Embodied Practice: Indigenous and mindful exercises with tasks and prompts in land and studio
– Land Work: in sunflower and sand stages, garden spaces, and building of individual sites
– Individual and independent exploration time: writing, documentation, and reflection
– Ongoing and communal discussions: artistic and cultural
– Sharing of process: daily Lab shares and public community open studio Aug 15
– Cultivating Land: garden to table food experience, reciprocal horticultural work
The Land: Talking Earth Studio – 986 Sour Springs Road, Hagersville ( Ohswé:ken/Six Nations of the Grand River)
Who is the Lab for? (ages 19+)
– Multidisciplinary and embodied artists interested and/or actively engaged with land-based or Indigenous processes
– Emerging to established professional creators with a body of work
– Priority will be given to Indigenous peoples
Registration Costs:
Full 2 Weeks:
Registration Fee: $1,000.00 (attendance, materials, facilities usage)
Yurt accommodation: $400.00 *based on double+ occupancy* (basic bedding, shower access)
Food Contribution: $250.00 (basic food supplies, water, garden access)
Week 1 only: (no accommodation)
Registration Fee: $500.00 (attendance, materials, facilities usage)
Food Contribution: $150.00 (basic food supplies, water, garden access)
Deadline: July 20, 2024
Please reach out to communications@danceumbrella.net if you have any further questions. Learn more about Kaha:wi Dance Theatre at https://www.kahawidance.org/