Nov 11, 5pm-10pm
ONX Studio 645 Fifth Ave (Olympic Tower) New York, NY 10022
The VR experience––one part of an expansive multi-format work––immerses its viewer in a multisensory medium with a poetic, visually stunning recreation of Mercedes’ Bushwick home. Mercedes VR unlocks the capacity of this technology to amplify community outreach, spread the word about mental healthcare resources for those struggling with similar circumstances, and captivate all audiences with a poignant story of matriarchal influence and multigenerational care.
TAXILANDIA, a site-specific work created and performed by ¡Oye! Group Founder Modesto ‘Flako’ Jimenez, is inspired by his years driving a taxi in Bushwick and his documentation of conversations with passengers, residents, locals, and immigrants to the neighborhood.
TAXILANDIA asks participants to consider their personal definition of home from the back seat of a roving cab as it’s immersed in the flavors, sounds, sights, and dynamic history of an area confronting social stigmas and the realities of gentrification.
Altogether, the NYC production and related programming to date resulted in over 200 performances, five virtual salons with local artists, a text message-guided tour of Bushwick – “Textilandia,” several new community murals, 400+ coloring books created by local artists distributed across the neighborhood, and over $8,000 (and counting) distributed to local businesses through a neighborhood gallery installation. TAXILANDIA received an acclaimed NYC production in 2021 that was awarded a Special Citation Obie Award.
NY Times Critics Pick - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/28/theater/taxilandia-review.html
Nov 14, 6pm-8pm
Carnegie Hall’s Resnick Education Wing
154 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019
Come and check out the great work I have been doing with health and hospitals
On November 14, Carnegie Hall’s Resnick Education Wing will host an interactive performance of Flako’s and the students’ work. The showcase will include a performance of scenes from Romeo and Juliet, written and performed by the students of Guns Down, Life Up; poetry readings; a rough cut of the documentary; and an opportunity to help paint the mural designed by Flako and Ski. THIS EVENT WILL BE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
