summer 2023 studio update
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I’m a few days late writing to y’all this time— spring has been busy! But I’m here, as usual, to wish you a sweet transition into a new season (happy belated solstice), and to give you some updates on my life and work.
Some life things first— I turned 40 and got tenure as a Gender & Women’s Studies prof at Cal! And i haven’t had the chance to check it out yet, my book is out with Rutgers University Press. Feeling endlessly grateful. But onto art things…
As many of you probably saw via my IG and my last newsletter, I performed a new piece, Bendición, in Spain this April as part of C3A’s show Remedios: Where new land might grow. I led a ritual procession through the streets of Córdoba, enacting a new collective offering to Yemaya. It was the largest performance I have ever done, and with the help of many dear friends and collaborators, we brought a little of Yemaya's ashé to the city.
And right after I touched down back in California, I spent a week on set for a new project that I can’t quite tell you about yet, but here’s a taste of what’s coming… Just this month I received grants for the project from the City of Berkeley as well as the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, both of which will be instrumental in allowing me to complete the new film. Again, and always, I am so grateful for all of the support for my practice.
I just got back into town from New York, where I performed with the inimitable Dragonfly (aka Robin LaVerne Wilson) at Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens’ Exploring the Earth as Lover: Ecosex and the City symposium hosted at Performance Space New York. It was an absolute blast. We reprised Orisha Wedding for the third time (see I and II here), and I had the opportunity to speak about my practice on a panel with Kate Bornstein, Savitri D., Sur Rodney (Sur), and Linda M. Montano. Love and thanks always to Annie and Beth for their work in the movement, and for this big family they’ve created. More photos coming soon!
I’m also featured in Sunshowers, an incredible group show at the AIR Gallery curated by Mira Dayal. New York community— tap in! The show opens June 30th and is up through July 30th, and it’s already been featured as a show of the summer in Hyperallergic. I’d love for you to see it.
Now something for the Bay Area folks— later this summer, I’ll be performing a live ritual for Oshun at the Berkeley Art Center on September 8th, and you won’t want to miss it. So consider this a save the date! I’ll also be screening my film Sopera de Yemaya in the associated show curated by Adrianne Ramsey, Rabbit Hole, which opens this August.
As always, thank you for believing in my work.
More soon.
C