2014 Media MFA alum Valentina Vella will be performing tomorrow, April 14 at 6:00 p.m. at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art.  Taking place over three Tuesday evenings, “Notes on Empty Chairs” is a series of interactive performances by Chicago-based artist Kirsten Leenaars that explore themes of empathy, loss, and remembrance in response to the exhibition “Doris Salcedo.” The performances are cumulative and collaboratively developed with local community groups. Audience members are challenged to become active spectators and partake in the theatrical events.

This second performance, “Notes on Empty Chairs (part 2),” responds to the terms absence and presence. Both describe fundamental states of being. Through a simple choreography in relationship to Salcedo’s installations the performers explore the notion that a body in totality is much more than a physical presence. Whether representing, presenting, or standing-in, the performers negotiate what it means to occupy or create a space, as subject or object. The human body is not a concept. It is irreplaceable.

There will be durational pieces starting at 6:00 p.m. in several different rooms. They will last 45 minutes, after which performers and audience will convene to one room for the end of the event. The performers developed their own pieces, and Vella (who also performed in the first event in this series in March) will be performing with Sonia Yoon, Alison Auwerda and Marvin Tate.

Facebook event link: Click here.
MCA link: Click here.

The performers for “Notes on Empty Chairs (part 2)” include: Marvin Tate, Matthew Robinson, Regin Iglora, Kim Chayeb, Udita Upadhyaya, Sonia Yoon, Melina Ausikaitis, Christopher Guidotti, Christopher Gambino, Jada Armina Harvey, Soheila Sima Azida, Valentina Vella, Alex Main, Alexis Atwill, Alison Auwerda, Billy McGuinness. Drummer: Dan Bitney