IF/THEN: New Works presented by Honey Pot Performance braided together the original commissioned works of featured artists Allegra Dolores, Sojourner Zenobia, Norman W. Long, Gloria “Gloe” Talamantes, and Honey Pot Performance in a culminating performance event of divine alchemy. The ensemble played improvisational scores together built on themes from Cuban artist Belkis Ayon’s work, practices of spiritual guidance and intuition, and notions of ritual and ancestral connection. Works were inspired by a year long process of creative ritual and filmed at the Green Line Performing Arts Center to create an hour long performance film.
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What divine instruments guide and shape our work? How do we tune in to higher plane energies? And how do we build from the power and magic of collective creative decision-making using trust and intuition in concert with structured methods?
If/Then brought HPP into conversation with artists aligned with our creative work and values to investigate the ways spirit and intuition guide our practice. We looked at aesthetics through hands-on engagement, building upon the use of binary systems and divination/divining as a central metaphor in our process.
We engaged in fluid combinations of play and ritual -- a series of incantations and spells, casting of shells, deconstructing lists of directions & tasks, sculpting a recipe book of invitation, love, & cooperative joy -- to encourage collective magic.
Phase One was an invitation to experiment, improvise, and play.
In Phase Two, HPP commissioned each of the artists to create new work inspired by the creativity generated in Phase One.
And, Phase Three was a New Works Festival culminating as a performance film featuring all of the artists. The film premiered at First Church of the Brethren in September 2024.
If/Then online sharing #1:
Honey Pot Performance with Norman W. Long (April 29)
Instructions for viewing: This prerecorded online performance includes several linked videos in a playlist including: Introduction, Divining the Score, and a performance consisting of 3 videos (Movement 1, Movement 2, and Movement 3). Once you click play the playlist will automatically run. Watching them in this linked order is encouraged for the fullest experience of the process and performance as intended by the artists.
If/Then online sharing #2:
Honey Pot Performance with Special Guests (May 13)
Instructions for viewing: This prerecorded online performance includes several linked videos in a playlist including: Introduction, Divining the Score, and a performance consisting of 3 videos (Movement 1, Movement 2, and Movement 3). Once you click play the playlist will automatically run. Watching them in this linked order is encouraged for the fullest experience of the process and performance as intended by the artists.
If/Then online sharing #3:
Honey Pot Performance with Special Guests (May 24)
Instructions for viewing: This prerecorded online performance includes several linked videos in a playlist including: Introduction, Divining the Score, and a performance consisting of 3 videos (Movement 1, Movement 2, and Movement 3). Once you click play the playlist will automatically run. Watching them in this linked order is encouraged for the fullest experience of the process and performance as intended by the artists.
Video List
Intro | 1st Movement | 2nd Movement | 3rd Movement | Divining The Score
PHASE 1: Exploration
In Spring 2020 HPP launched this experimental series in conversation with the Belkis Akon exhibition at the Chicago Cultural Center. Each month features a different guest artist in collaboration with HPP working through a series of scores, inquiries, and improvisations to generate a body of choices guided by energetic connections, chance operations, and consistent practice.
Each month there were 3 closed studio sessions and a final public session hosted in partnership with the Chicago Cultural Center. The series culminated in late May in a performance featuring all the artists featured. Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, all programming has moved to a virtual environment until further notice.
PHASE 2: Creation (Commissions)
From June-September 2021, HPP commissioned each featured artist to create a new work based on our divining experiments.
PHASE 3: If/Then: New Works Festival
If/Then: New Works Festival in partnership with the Green Line Performing Arts Center. The performance weaves together the original commissioned works of featured artists Allegra Dolores, Sojourner Zenobia, Norman W. Long, Gloria “Gloe” Talamantes, and Honey Pot Performance in a culminating event of divine alchemy. Works are inspired by a year long process of creative ritual, playing improvisational scores together built on themes from Cuban artist Belkis Ayon’s work, practices of spiritual guidance and intuition, and notions of ritual and ancestral connection.
Credit: Marcus Davis