Breathing across, A Traveling Exhibition Proposal for Breathing in a Time of Disaster

Authors:

• Cassie Mira Nicholson, Museology Graduate Program
• Chair: Lane Eagles
• Naomi Macalalad Bragin
• Levi Fuller

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Abstract:

"Breathing across" is a traveling exhibition proposal based on the project Breathing in a Time of Disaster (BITD), curated in collaboration with Ching-In Chen. Two previous BITD iterations, Houston (2019), and Seattle at Jack Straw Cultural Center's New Media Gallery (October 2022 - January 2023) began their curatorial processes with community story circles, a community-centered approach to theme development, where collaborators respond to prompts about their relationship with their body, breath, and environment. During Seattle’s run of the show, I designed and held five watch/listening parties and a special story circle for a summative evaluation of the show. A major theme that emerged from the evaluation was that Seattle participants were eager to connect with Houston participants, so “Breathing across” envisions the first run of a traveling show as a return to Houston for three months of exhibition and programming. The proposal’s design expands the story circle’s role to serve both as public programming in the form of a workshop and as the methodology for an evaluation plan. It also aims to increase accessibility, forge ties between Seattle and Houston, foster dialog between artists and community, and build an archive of speculative dreaming that inspires action to climate-related disasters. Events including story circles, rituals, performances, and workshops will engage visitors in dialogue and hands-on activities. Marketing efforts will prioritize reaching minoritized communities most impacted by environmental hazards. Join the project's Breath Chorus by submitting a recording of your name and one minute of breathing here: https://bit.ly/breathchorus.

Poster:

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Project Deliverable:

Breathing across, A Traveling Exhibition Proposal for Breathing in a Time of Disaster

Video Presentation