How can we gather now?
An experimental symposium co-directed by Asad Raza & Prem Krishnamurthy
We are living through a moment marked by many forms of fragmentation, political division, and social isolation, exacerbated by the global pandemic. WPA’s symposium explores the question of gathering within this context.
How can we gather now? is the culmination of two years of research and collaboration. It convenes artists, theorists, and organizers from all over the world as well as artworks and films. Participants include adrienne maree brown, Ambrose Nzams, Ayana Zaire Cotton, Black Techno Matters, Centre for Land Affairs, Cynthia Connolly, Ed Halter, Emily Verla Bovino, Fabiola Ching, Farrah Skeiky, Hope Ginsburg, Imka, Jonathan Yu, Leigh Ledare, Lenka Clayton & Phillip Andrew Lewis, Mayah Lovell, Mēlani N. Douglass, Michael Carter, Mindy Seu, Mojdeh Rezaeipour, Naoco Wowsugi, Nzinga Tull, Philippe Parreno, Renée Green, Richard D. Bartlett & Natalia Lombardo, Rob Rubba, Sarah Morris, Shawna Murray-Brown, Shiraz Abdullahi Gallab, Smoke & Tea, Stefanie Hessler, Suzie Flores, Tara Aura, Tiffany Sia, Tony Cokes, Valerie Wiseman, William Reid, and Yuma “Docta Yew” Bellomee.
How can we gather now? is also itself a gathering and a shared collective experience. It collects a rich variety of experiential modes, from conversations to cinema to shared food to a “drum circle” of synthetic techno rhythms. Raza and Krishnamurthy have offered this urgent question to invited contributors to, who in turn have used it as a prompt for artworks, conversations, performances, workshops, and gustatory experiences.
Program Descriptions
Keynote: adrienne maree brown & Prem Krishnamurthy
Co-director Prem Krishnamurthy will be in conversation with adrienne maree brown to kick off this three day-symposium centered around the question “How can we gather now?” This will be a hybrid conversation, adrienne will join by Zoom and Prem will be in-person.
“K is for Karaoke” organized by Prem Krishnamurthy
As a format, karaoke can generate mild to serious discomfort in people, piggyback upon existing artistic excellence, and demonstrate the possible range of vocal virtuosity (or its complete lack thereof)—while also creating community through shared vulnerability and mutual support. Whether you like to belt it out or just cheer on others, please join us for a special event to kick off the symposium and answer the question: “What song would you like to hear sung tonight?”
“Punk Solutions?” with Cynthia Connolly, Ambrose Nzams, and Farrah Skeiky
An intimate, intergenerational conversation with photographer and curator Cynthia Connolly, music writer and zine maker Ambrose Nzams, and photographer and writer Farrah Skeiky about the ways that punk and DIY culture offers solutions to gathering, and how that culture shows up in other parts of our lives.
“Conjuring for kitchens, dancefloors, and the cosmos“ organized by Mēlani N. Douglass
In setting its eyes on the stars, The Apothecary celebrates the celestial power of Nzinga Tull and Mēlani N. Douglass as they join together to explore ancestral technology1 through the works of anthropology, archeology, alchemy and more. From dancefloors to outer space, these two creative sages of adept knowledge search for answers in light of filling our own cup. Whether it be through kitchen magic or quantum physics, the conversation will work to manifest ancestral ingredients that are essential for unlocking the essence of new rituals, theories, and practices to support soul work of the eternal now2. Join this enlightening dialogue as we gather to create collective perspectives on how to activate our individual powers and build the society that fills us all.
1 Ancestral technology, a term coined by Melani N. Douglass to describe the wisdom we intrinsically seek, know and understand from our ancestors
2 A term Mēlani N. uses to describe the past, present and future and the way time folds into itself.
“Umami Taste Development Center in DC” with Naoco Wowsugi, Rob Rubba, Suzie Flores, Yuma “Docta Yew” Bellomee, William Reid, and Tara Aura
At ‘The Umami Taste Development Center in DC,’ we collectively practice observing the different tastes of locally sourced umami broths, which are all vegan, may contain soy, and cooked by Chef Rob Rubba. This synergistic experience of umami heightens our senses and fosters epiphanic connections as we share tastes and stories related to food justice, sovereignty, security, and sustainability.
This communal experience is developed through a collaborative effort between the artist Naoco Wowsugi, Chef Rob Rubba of Oyster Oyster, and umami experts: Suzie Flores, Yuma “Docta Yew” Bellomee, William Reid, and Tara Aura, with additional support from umami assistants Lauren Brown, Kara Harley, and Fabiola Delgado. Capacity is limited to 50 participants.
“Apparitional Experiments – Even the Demons are Censored with The Centre for Land Affairs” organized by Tiffany Sia
The Centre for Land Affairs is a research group based in Hong Kong that investigates land dispossession by property developers, governments, and other hegemonic entities. The heterogeneous group invites researchers and creative workers to compost (with and around) dispossession, art/greenwashing, extraction, and colonial-thinking. For this symposium, The Centre of Land Affairs will re-create a virtual space of an exhibition, which was censored in Hong Kong and 80% of the works were taken down. Facing criticism and pressure on their show, they were told by a Town Planning Board civil servant and a senior Leighton employee, “You can’t show this. You can’t demonize the developers!” Inspired by this prompt of having “demonized” the developers, The Centre of Land Affairs will show this lost exhibition, summoning ghosts that could only appear in a virtual space. They will talk with Tiffany Sia using concealed identities, allowing an opportunity for others to be ventriloquists for this anonymous group. This program is a part of Apparitional Experiments, organized by Tiffany Sia and Speculative Place.
“Apparitional Experiments – Mad Masters / Other Countdowns with Emily Verla Bovino” organized by Tiffany Sia
Emily Verla Bovino will talk with Tiffany Sia about encounters with the syncretic practices known as ‘Cantonese shamanism’ and ‘mediumship’ as they are practiced in Hong Kong, and their transformation into intangible cultural heritage promoted by the tourism industry. What if instead of thinking about these practices as captivating local culture—that carries with it the vestiges of peasant life under feudalism—they are understood as articulating both a sophisticated theory of the ‘apparational’, and as a philosophy that has always been threatening to inter-imperial rule over Hong Kong’s fugitive territories of refuge and escape? The conversation will be introduced with the chronotope of the ‘countdown’ in Hong Kong historiography and the entropic spatio-temporal repetitions and returns, openings and closings that it produces, speculating on its relationship to shamanistic notions of time and space. Participants will be invited to contribute imagined diagrams of ‘other countdowns’ to a collaborative document. This program is a part of Apparitional Experiments, organized by Tiffany Sia and Speculative Place.
Tony Cokes: “Black Celebration”
In “Black Celebration,” (1988), Tony Cokes pairs footage from the 1965 riots in Watts, Boston, Detroit, and Newark with text by The Situationist International, Barbara Kruger, Morrissey, and Depeche Mode’s Martin L. Gore, along with music by the industrial band Skinny Puppy.
The video was shown at WPA in 1989 as part of “The Blues Aesthetic: Black Culture and Modernism” exhibition, curated by Richard J. Powell.
“Memory Museum: A Tea Meditation” organized by Mēlani N. Douglass
Tapping into our senses can unlock ancient memories and remind us that we are not only grounded in our own life stories. Integrative psychotherapist Shawna Murray-Browne, LCSW-C joins Mēlani N. Douglass in The Apothecary as they use the power of smell to bridge cultures and experiences while tracing the intersections of aromas through the tapestry of emotion connecting us all. Through guided meditations and slow sips you’re invited to explore sensations around food as you connect to your deepest memories, experiences and emotions. From there, you’ll be able to share stories from yourself or from others in a meaningful way as you recognize our shared journey through healing, connection, loss and joy rather than viewing them as separate entities. Let’s harness the power of scent to open the doors wide for insightful conversations that can help ground us in the essence of who we truly are—diverse yet deeply connected through our commonalities.
“Apparitional Experiments – Banner-making Workshop with Jonathan Yu” organized by Tiffany Sia
Jonathan Yu will lead a collective banner making workshop using calligraphy components and techniques. During this event, Tiffany Sia will facilitate a conversation with Jonathan to discuss common spaces of expression and the failures of claiming public spaces. This program is a part of Apparitional Experiments, organized by Tiffany Sia and Speculative Place.
“Deep Listening: Horticultural Sound Bath by Very Sad Lab with Smoke & Tea + Imka” organized by Naoco Wowsugi
Very Sad Lab is a houseplant rehabilitation and research-based community-engaged art project developed by artists Valerie Wiseman and Naoco Wowsugi. For this gathering, DC-based sound artists Smoke & Tea and Imka will collaborate with VSL and create a space for an interspecies healing between plants and humans alike through ambient music and plant care tutorial.
“Apparitional Experiments — On Independent Spaces with Ed Halter” organized by Tiffany Sia
Tiffany Sia and Ed Halter will be in conversation to discuss what it really means to run an independent space, discussing Light Industry and Speculative Place.
Keynote: Stefanie Hessler
Stefanie Hessler, Director of Swiss Institute, will present a lecture about the idea of gathering from different perspectives and sensory approaches. This talk will explore how to attune our human (and non-human) selves to others—across our differences—in order to address the climate crisis and consider the importance of convening with the non-human. Following the lecture, co-director Asad Raza will be in conversation with Stefanie.
“Future Drum Circle” organized by Black Techno Matters
Black Techno Matters, a collective on a mission to reclaim techno as a manifestation of black expression, brings together five DMV musicians for FUTUR3 DRUM C1RCL3, a two-hour jam session and dance party. Think of a drum circle, but with electronic drum machines, played by B_X_R_N_X_R_D, Diyanna Monet, Asha Santee, Stukes, and Blinkhorn. The quintet of forward thinking electronic musicians will gather to create rhythmic l00ps to move our spirits and recalibrate our consciousness to reveal the untapped potential within us to actualize our own futures when we gather around sonic vibration technology. Join us for this exploration of the unifying energy of techno! This event will be lit by black light, so dress to glow.
“Microsolidarity in Practice” organized by Richard D. Bartlett and Natalia Lombardo
Richard D. Bartlett and Natalia Lombardo have contributed a series of games and activities which will be offered throughout the symposium to inspire gathering at different scales and spur deeper connections between participants. Richard and Natalia are co-founders of The Hum, which helps decentralized organizations thrive. Richard is the author of the community practice called Microsolidarity.
“The Making of Fertile Ground” organized by Mēlani N. Douglass
11th generation farmer and founder of Africulture, Michael Carter, visits The Apothecary for an exploration of soil and its healing properties. Bring your mug and be led through a slow sip as we work collectively to uncover the hidden lessons in creating and caring for soil. Journey with us beyond a scientific observation of replenishing land and scientific analysis of this often overlooked yet vitally important alchemical process. Come with your heart open to receive sacred messages from Mother Earth as we sip slowly on offerings of the land and take a closer look at this miraculous process which holds the instructions for rejuvenating the land and our spirits. Through Michael’s ancestral and familial journey, we are reminded through the process of replenishing soil, that trauma can be transmuted into triumph and community can be born amongst great diversity. Embracing this wisdom brings us to an abundant realization that no matter what adversity we have endured, with each season, we have the opportunity for regrowth and powerful transformation. Commit with us to living and working diligently to make our internal and external part of the existence fertile ground.
Film Screenings
Featuring: Hope Ginsburg: Land Dive Team: Bay of Fundy; Leigh Ledare: The Task; Lenka Clayton + Phillip Andrew Lewis: Five Hundred Twenty-Four; Mojdeh Rezaeipour: Formations of a Diasporic Body; Phillipe Parreno: The Crowd; Renée Green: Wavelinks: Activism + Sound; Sarah Morris: Sakura
“To Document a Gathering” organized by Mindy Seu
In questioning how ephemeral events might be documented, Mindy Seu has invited Ayana Zaire Cotton, Fabiola Ching, Mayah Lovell, and Shiraz Abdullahi Gallab to participate in the symposium as “Keynote Listeners.” They will participate in programs throughout the weekend and create an archive that will be shared on Are.na. They will archive their interpretations of what has occurred through sketches, poetry, body language interpretation, and other mediums and present their findings at the end of the symposium.
“SEEDED, An affirmation practice” organized by Mēlani N. Douglass
Seeded paper artfully crafted by Melani and Michael has given us all a chance to reconnect with the Earth through our reaffirmations and dream visions. This opportunity is not only a means of sending our good will into the world, but it allows each of us to tap into our power as conscious creators. As we take this moment to bid farewell until next time, writing and planting affirmations is sure to lend its support for our journey ahead in life, love and light!
