Holding Space
Holding Space by Bay Area artist Angie Wilson is a solo exhibition and installation of hand-woven rugs and thread works that hang in the gallery as part of an art and movement based programming series. The physical works and participatory workshops explore our connections to the fabric of the universe and to each other. We connect art, craft, and movement to a journey that explores our origins as the descendants of stars alongside our current realities, engaging questions about oppression and liberation.
The programming series in Holding Space springs from dynamic collaborations between Angie Wilson and local community organizations such as the Oakland youth dance organization Destiny Arts Center, with co-director Rashidi Omari, the Berkeley Art Museum, See Through Soul, and other special guests (including Theoretical Physicist Yasunori Nomura, Anthropologist and Sound Healer Mukund Subramanian), and community organizers. The varied content of the weekly workshops ranges from dance, weaving, meditation, sound healing, or panel conversations about universality, race, gender, dark matter and interconnectedness. Workshop members also participate in the creation of a community carpet built on their own woven interpretations of space: outer space in the cosmos, outer space in public life, inner space within ourselves, and safe space in our communities.
Art, movement, and creation can heal. Holding Space lets us explore our power to create change in our communities. Holding Space creates opportunities for people to move together and make art together, to think and dialogue about our interconnectedness and about how our actions affect the universe and impact one another. The goals of this project are to offer audience members of all ages and backgrounds an embodied space for contemplation, conversation, creativity, and community building. We hold space to dialogue and make work connecting to the external universe and the worlds within our communities and ourselves.
WORKSHOP AND SPECIAL EVENT CALENDAR
Saturday May 11, 7-10pm: Opening Reception with performances at 7:30 by Destiny Youth Arts Performance Company, dance educator Rashidi Omari, and See Through Soul
Sunday May 12, 2-4pm: Warps, Strings, and the Fabric of the Universe // A conversation about Astrophysics, String Theory, Individual Impact, and Movement: with dance educator Rashidi Omani, theoretical physicist Yasunori Nomura, and artist Angie Wilson
Sunday May 19, 1-3pm: Performance and Participatory Dance workshop by Destiny Youth Arts Junior Dance Company and choreographer Samara Atkins of Alphabet Rockers.
Sunday May 19, 3-5pm. All Ages/Family Dance Party with DJ RikiRain
Saturday May 25, 1-3pm at Berkeley Art Museum Holding Space workshop: an embodied art making and weaving workshop with dance educator Rashidi Omari and artist Angie Wilson // An installation of hand-woven rugs provides the setting for a weaving workshop and a place to connect with the experience of embodied art making, working through social justice issues in community by moving and making together. Alongside artists Angie Wilson and Rashidi Omari, create woven work while reflecting on universality, race, gender, and interconnectedness.
Sunday June 2, 11-1pm: Sound Healing and Reiki workshop with sound healer, cultural anthropologist and Japanese Moghusa practitioner Mukund Subramanian and Reiki practitioner and dancer Sheila Russell
Sunday June 2, 2-4 pm: Time and Space: a Weaving Workshop: explore the ways in which thread and fabric are models for understanding the universe with artist Angie Wilson. //In this workshop participants will become cosmic weavers, exploring the ways in which thread and fabric are useful models for understanding the universe and interconnectedness. We will work through concepts including warps and wormholes, string theory, and the fabric of the universe. Participants will create their own woven interpretations of space: outer space in the cosmos, outer space in public life, inner space within ourselves, safe space in our communities.
Saturday June 15, 1-2:30pm: Meditation, Movement, and Weaving Workshop to explore the power to create change with dance educator Rashidi Omari and artist Angie Wilson // In this workshop participants will explore our power to create change in our communities. We will meditate, move, and weave together, exploring ideas around interconnectedness and how our actions affect the universe and impact one another. We will hold space to dialogue and make work connecting to the external universe and the worlds within our communities and ourselves.
Sunday June 23, 2-4 pm: Time and Space: a Weaving Workshop: explore the ways in which thread and fabric are models for understanding the universe with artist Angie Wilson. // In this workshop participants will become cosmic weavers, exploring the ways in which thread and fabric are useful models for understanding the universe and interconnectedness. We will work through the concepts including warps and wormholes, string theory, and the fabric of the universe. Participants will create their own woven interpretations of space: outer space in the cosmos, outer space in public life, inner space within ourselves, safe space in our communities.