As part of Abraham Cruzvillegas’s current exhibit of sculptural objects at The Contemporary Austin, he has generously invited a number of artists to “activate” the installation. We’re excited to announce that Body Shift has been asked to bring work into the gallery and participate with this community of artists. Our offering will take place on Saturday, May 25th and will be in two parts – a performance and a workshop both in the same day at 700 Congress Ave. More info here.

– 3pm performance – Brandon Gonzalez and Lauren Tietz direct an improvised ensemble performance that responds to Cruzvillegas’s installation as well as celebrates the spirit of Body Shift. The “activation” brings together a diverse group of people in rehearsal and performance to investigate attention, attunement, and affection. In a world that is often harsh, numb, and isolating, an ethics of care encourages relational practices of embodied presence. What does it mean to be present to one’s own experience while being present with that of another? How do we hold more than one perspective? Performers explore their relations through the moment-to-moment actions of movement and touch. Can we arrive together as a multiplicity of bodies (and objects) as a way of rejuvenating, as well as receiving and giving support?

– 4:30pm workshop – Following the performance, Olivia O’Hare and Veronica DeWitt will facilitate a participatory workshop open to the public. We will use exercises from the DanceAbility method of improvisational dance to offer a direct experience of dance as a way to explore the theme of care as well as respond to Cruzvillegas’s idea of autoconstruccion – to make something out of nothing – in relationship to identity – how can we know who we are until we allow the time to attend to our own sensations and then see or sense ourselves in relationship to other people around us and our environment? How can we create our own autoconstruccion with the material of our bodies, our experience, and the space that Cruzvillegas has created?

We encourage you to stay for both events! You are invited to participate in or observe the workshop. If you plan to participate, please wear clothes you can comfortably move and stretch in (no skirts or large jewelry). There will be refreshments available on the roof deck during the break from 4-4:30pm. The museum is fully accessible.