This past Summer and Fall amidst widespread cancellations, Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, itself facing a shuttered theater, forged a path for artists to safely gather, create and perform together again. Pioneering and producing bubble residencies that have since been widely duplicated, over fifty artists entered eight Works & Process bubble residencies in rural Hudson Valley after an unprecedented period of isolation. To capture this journey, Works & Process produced a four-part docuseries Isolation to Creation, by filmmaker Nic Petry of Dancing Camera, to provide audiences with the rare opportunity to go into the bubbles and behind the scenes to experience the hope, joy, exhilarating physical struggle, and emotional challenges experienced by performers returning to the studio and stage. The series will stream nationwide on January 27, and February 3, 10, and 17, at 8pm ET, for free on the ALL ARTS app, allarts.org, and also air in the New York metro area on the ALL ARTS TV channel, lineups available here: https://allarts.org/everywhere/

 

"While it may be some time before we can once again see performances like these in real time and space, this year's Works & Process affirms that even when circumstances are constrained, creativity can still take flight and soar." -

The Wall Street Journal

 

"Works & Process has always championed artists and their creative process. Even though the pandemic put us on pause, we were adamant that we had to continue to fulfill our mission and creatively and financially support artists," said Caroline Cronson, Producer of Works & Process. "With the pandemic rendering artists so vulnerable, we knew we had to forge a new path forward and share these truly unique and compelling journeys to a wider public, we are proud to partner with ALL ARTS to share these stories of hope and resiliency," said Duke Dang, General Manager of Works & Process.

 

"We're incredibly proud of the role we play as an amplifier and platform for the arts. So many arts institutions have either had to close their doors or find new innovative ways to present to their audiences this year," said Co-Executive in Charge of ALL ARTS Diane Masciale. "We're honored to be partnering with the Guggenheim's Works & Process to bring Isolation to Creation to viewers across the country for free. It's a perfect example of the beautiful collaboration and creativity that exists in the arts community, especially during hard times," added Senior Director of ALL ARTS Joe Harrell.

Under a medical protocol developed with medical counsel Dr. Wendy Ziecheck, and ethical oversight provided by Dr. Robert Klitzman, artists isolated by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic gathered in quarantine to work together in Hudson Valley. In partnership with Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Mount Tremper Arts, and Petronio Residency Center through jointly subsidized residencies, eight creative bubbles were created to incubate Works & Process commissions featuring diverse dance cultures, including Afrik, ballet, ballroom, break, flex, Krump, modern, tap, and vogue dance styles, and beatbox. Select projects were sequenced into filmed performances at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and audiences were invited to witness some of the collaborative work and receive real-time updates on Works & Process social media at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube (@worksandprocess).

 

Episode 1: January 27 

Isolation to Creation: The Way Forward

After self-isolation and serial Covid testing, quarantine bubbles are formed for artists to gather, create, and perform safely again. Ephrat Asherie, Les Ballet Afrik, Joshua Bergasse, Sara Mearns, Missing Element, Music from the Sole & Jamar Roberts.

 

Episode 2: February 3

Isolation to Creation: Beatbox, Modern, Street, Tap Dance and Afro-Brazilian Rhythm

Artists from Missing Element melding beatbox and breaking, flexn, and Krumping; Music from the Sole fusing tap and Afro-Brazilian rhythms; and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater resident choreographer Jamar Roberts and dancers go back into the studio for the first time.

 

Episode 3: February 10

Isolation to Creation: Afrik, Ballet, Ballroom, Broadway, Club, House, and Vogue

Ephrat Asherie Dance with club legends, Les Ballet Afrik and ballroom legend Omari Wiles, and Seven Deadly Sins artists Joshua Bergasse, Marc Happel and Sara Mearns go back into the studio for the first time.

 

Episode 4: February 17

Isolation to Creation: Showtime

After two weeks inside Works & Process bubble residencies, projects culminate in live performances at Kaatsbaan Festival and filmed video at Lincoln Center, previewing future premiere performances at the Guggenheim, once it is safe for all to gather.

 

Lead support for Works & Process Bubble Residencies and Isolation to Creationprovided by Anh-Tuyet Nguyen and Robert Pollock and the Works & Process Board of Directors, with additional support from Jonna Mackin.

 

The filming of Isolation to Creation was supported in part by the Jerome Robbins Dance Division at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. 

 

Featured Bubble Residency Artists include:

Ephrat Asherie Dance

Les Ballet Afrik with Omari Wiles

The Missing Element with Chris Celiz and Anthony Rodriguez "Invertebrate"

Music from the Sole with Gregory Richardson and Leonardo Sandoval

Jamar Roberts

Seven Deadly Sins with Joshua Bergasse, Justin Vivian Bond, Jeffrey Guimond, Marc Happel, and Sara Mearns  

 

Notes from the Bubble, a series for trailers for Isolation to Creation can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ08rQmWB63QrAk67XU8C3k2DiPmUVRyM. Find more information at www.worksandprocess.org. Once conditions are deemed safe for audiences and artists to gather, the live premieres and showings of projects featured in Isolation to Creation will be presented at the Guggenheim Museum as part of the Works & Process 2021 season.

 

Works & Process at the Guggenheim 

Described by The New York Times as "an exceptional opportunity to understand something of the creative process," for 35 years, New Yorkers have been able to see, hear, and meet the most acclaimed artists in the world, in an intimate setting unlike any other. Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, has championed new works and offered audiences unprecedented access to generations of leading creators and performers. Most performances take place in the Guggenheim's intimate Frank Lloyd Wright-designed 273-seat Peter B. Lewis Theater. In 2017, Works & Process established a new residency and commissioning program, inviting artists to create new works, made in and for the iconic Guggenheim rotunda. In 2020, Works & Process Artists (WPA) Virtual Commissions was created to financially support artists and nurture their creative process during the pandemic. To forge a path for artists to safely gather, create, and perform during the pandemic, in summer 2020, Works & Process pioneered and produced a series of bubble residencies that will continue into 2021. worksandprocess.org. Lead funding for Works & Process is provided by the Ford Foundation, the Christian Humann Foundation, Leon Levy Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, NYC COVID-19 Response and Impact Fund, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and Evelyn Sharp Foundation, with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Works & Process has received support from the U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program and NYC Employee Retention Grant Program.

 

About ALL ARTS

ALL ARTS is breaking new ground as the premier destination for inspiration, creativity and art of all forms. This New York Emmy-winning arts and culture hub is created by WNET, the parent company of New York's PBS stations. With the aim of being accessible to viewers everywhere, ALL ARTS' Webby-nominated programming - from digital shorts to feature films - is available online nationwide through allarts.org, the free ALL ARTS app on all major streaming platforms and @AllArtsTV on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. New York area TV viewers can also watch the 24/7 broadcast channel. For all the ways to watch, visit allarts.org/everywhere.

 

Leadership support for ALL ARTS is generously provided by Jody and John Arnhold, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, the Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, The Jerome L. Greene Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Anderson Family Fund.