 'Dissolution'cure-ated & performed by Desiree Mwalimu-Banks |  'Soul Kitchen'cure-ated by Cheryl R. Riley / seen here: Tashi Colston, & Mayari Carter |  'Soul Kitchen'cure-ated by Cheryl R. Riley / seen here: Laura Cabrera, Marie Tatti Aqeel, Cheryl R. Riley |
|---|---|---|
 'Adolescence'cure-ated & performed by members of R.O.P.E. |  'Legacy'cure-ated & performed by Sarah Varichon / placenta fabric sculpture by Maria Ramirez |  'Legacy'cure-ated & performed by Sarah Varichon / placenta fabric sculpture by Maria Ramirez |
 'Legacy'cure-ated by Sarah Varichon / umbilical cord fabric sculpture by Maria Ramirez |  Placenta Portraitsartwork by Venus Paloma Rodriguez, in 'The Living Womb' cure-ated by Sohkna Heathyre Mabin |  'No Longer Silent'cure-ated & performed by Juliet Olivier |
 'No Longer Silent'cure-ated & performed by Juliet Olivier |  'Migration/Diaspora'cure-ated by Nicole Combeau & Pooja Prema / performed by Nicole Combeau |  'Migration/Diaspora'performed by Nicole Combeau |
 'Migration/Diaspora'performed by Nicole Combeau |  'Forgiveness'cure-ated & performed by Azaria Caroyln Ulmer |  'Forgiveness'cure-ated by Azaria Caroyln Ulmer |
 'Wombman Heal Thyself'cure-ated & performed by Sunder Ashni |  'Re-Matriation'cure-ated by Pooja Prema / performed by Brenda Salgado |  'The Body Room'cure-ated by Shaina Lu & Vivian Hu / performed by Devyn Harris |
 'The Body Room'cure-ated by Shaina Lu & Vivian Hu / performed by Devyn Harris |  'Sustenance'cure-ated & performed by Pooja Prema |  'The Elder Room'cure-ated by Amber Chand & Satyena Ananda |
 "Death: A Stairway to an Invisible Exit"cure-ated by Manon Bogerd Wada & Mia Reiko |  'V is for Victoy'cure-ated by Pooja Prema / weaving & performance by Cynthia Alberto |  'V is for Victory'weaving by Cynthia Alberto |
 'V is for Victory'cure-ated by Pooja Prema / performed by Cynthia Alberto |
Rites of Passage:
20/20 Vision
August 13-17, 2021
The Whitney Center for the Arts, Pittsfield MA
Rites of Passage: 20/20 Vision was a "living museum" honoring the lives & visionary futures of Black, Indigenous & Immigrant Women of Color in America (BIWOC), set inside a historic former Women's Club in Western Massachusetts. Throughout its 27 "Rooms of Cure", 20/20 Vision reclaimed BIWOCs' experiences of initiation using ritual theatre & multimedia art shared over 10 live performances.
20/20 Vision was created in collaboration with over 65 Women of Color artists from around the US, ages 3 to 75, and was witnessed by nearly 1000 audience members.
This was the second "Rites of Passage" production; the first took place in 2013 in the same historic mansion - each room representing an archetypal stage or theme of initiation in women's lives generally - from birth to death, and created by another community of women artists.
The Rites of Passage Project is itself an evolving movement to reclaim and celebrate women's initiations through ritual, performance and multimedia art. Watch the 60-min walk through video, and learn more about the Rites of Passage website here.
Produced, Conceived & Directed by Pooja Prema
Percussion:
Amanda Turk
Carolyn Koebel
Krista Spero
Janel Munoa: Company Manager
On-Site Production Manager & Stage Manager: Melissa Mowry
Assistant Stage Manager: Shiku Thuo
Off-Site Production Manager: Afrika Smith
Technical Manager: Maia Robbins-Zust
Materials: Marina Dominguez
Box Office Manager: Michelle Alerte
Intern Support: Devyn Harris
Graphics: Erin Murphy
Sul Support Mamas: Aki Hirata, Amy Alaman, Azaria Carolyn Ulmer, Brenda Salgado, Lula Christopher, Venus Paloma Rodriguez
Photography: Jeanny Tsai, Jill Goldman