COVID ART
Artists are the transposers of culture, time, history… no time is more critical for artists than a time such as this. In the face of a pandemic there are so many ways in which I cannot help. But there is this way in which I can. This has been a time of quesitoning:
How do I consider my responsibilty as an art-maker in this cultural moment?
How do I use art to grow connection in a time of necessary isolation?
With that I have commited myself to adapting my medium, thinking, and creativity to make art in response to COVID-19, to Miss Rona, to La Corona, to social distancing, to sheltering in, to what this journey will become. And I have commited myself as a practicioner to making collaborators out of the community around me seeking to engage.
Please stick around and see how this journey unfolds.
Your guess is as good as mine!
Xoxo,
DZ
ARTIST PROMPTS PROTEST
Multi-media artist Kevin Abrams work inspired by DZ’ Artist Prompt of PROTEST
Explore this prompt for yourself here
For you: ARTIST PROMPTS
As a part of our COVID ART Artist Cohorts, DZ generated several ARTIST PROMPTS geared at acting as a jumping off point for creative processing, practice, and reflection.
Here they are for you. To use as a tool for reflection or art-making as is helpful and fulfilling.
AN INQUIRY ON COMFORT
WHAT IS ESSENTIAL?
SELF-PORTRAIT
Just click on the link that sparks your interest and begin
DZ TWO WEEK COHORTS
From May 20th- June 3rd 2020 DZ Maciel hosted a two week virtual cohort, bringing together 8 artists in mediums ranging from documentary film-making to post-modern dance, to participate in a guided intensive creating process around the shared theme of “self-portait”.
Artists Joshua Dumas, Justine Lee, Terry Mathis, Debbie Mausner, Alex Zubak, Leigha Monier-Williams, and Connor Pereyo created new works that premiered in an invited Zoom Gallery showing on June 3rd 2020
Works included digital algorithm dance films, a children’s book, a meta-documentary about the artistic process, a live/non-live dance performance, and poetry set in motion.
Stay tuned for future cohort opportunities and gatherings hosted by DZ.
Check out these clips from Cohort Artist’s explorations!
Ben Roach (@ben_jamin_roach)
Debbie Mausner (@debbiemakesdances)
Connor Pereyo (@connorpereyo)
DZ MACIEL x PROVISIONS NYC
x KIN EUPHORICS
DZ was commissioned by NYC non-profit Provisions NYC and beverage company Kin-Euphorics to make a piece on childhood memory for a Zoom dinner party! All proceeds benefited North Brooklyn Angels.
Choreography & Performance: DZ
Film & Sound: Connor Pereyo
Special thanks: Anna Nudo
ARTIST PROMPTS
We commissioned 15 artists in various mediums with guided prompts meant to spark their curiosity and send them into artistic exploration, this is what they came up with!
Participants:
Elena Kurevija
Brett Westmoreland
Megan Wicks
Tess Pereyo
Meredith Clemons
DZ Maciel
Lexie Thrash
from Elena Kurevija
from DZ Maciel
Video from Brett Westmoreland, click to view
from Lexie Thrash
from Megan Wicks
from Tess Pereyo
Video from Meredith Clemons, click to view
Participants:
Connor Pereyo
Alex Zubak
Graceann Leadbeater
Nicoletta Lanese
Terry Mathis
Justine Lee
Rachel Larson
Davey Coleman
from Justine Lee & Terry Matthis
from Alex Zubak
Video from Connor Pereyo, click to view
from Graceann Leadbeater
from Rachel Larson
Video from Nicoletta Lanese, click to view
video from Davey Coleman, click to view
What is Essential?
An extended collaboration from Alex Zubak, DZ Maciel, and Connor Pereyo
CLICK TO VIEW
GROW-SLOW BEAUTY-DOWN
Premiered: Friday 3/20 7 PM on @provisions_nyc livestram
What is quarantined that if shared would make you feel naked and free?
For our first attempt at making COVID ART we responded to quarantine in NYC with a livestream bedroom party for one, complete with #safehands, introspection, joyful spinning, and utter abandon. Our ernest attempt at capturing week 1 of quarantine in collaboration with various followers of @dz.maciel whose input in the artistic process helped make it happen! Audience prompts helped spur on the work, cued our investigation, gave us direction, and were the words that filled up the performance, as well as the deciders of our musical score!
Choreography & Performance: DZ Maciel
Film & Sound: Connor Pereyo
In collaboration with so many via @mass.yell