The New Colossus [an interpretive sonnet performance]

In 1883, American poet Emma Lazarus wrote the sonnet which would redefine a monument and provide language for an ambitious and widely-held national value… “Give me your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

The New Colossus.

For this performance, 14 artists and thinkers have each created a five minute interpretation of a line from the poem, which will be shared in sequence as a collaborative, performative “reading” and exploration of this seminal piece of American poetry. Each line, each word impacts every other – and through creative expression and individual experience, the performers provide opportunity for the audience to understand the poem, and all it stands for, in new ways.

The performances and presentations will range wildly in medium, perspective, and tone. The sonnet emphasizes and celebrates the freedom of all people, in accordance with that, each participant has been given absolute freedom with their line. Expect to see everything from poetry, to music, video, slides, theater… anything.

The New Colossus [an interpretive sonnet performance] is inspired by Portuguese artist Tiago Rodriguez’s performance piece “By Heart,” which will be in The Black Box Theater at The Contemporary Arts Center on September 28th and 29th. “By Heart is about the importance of communication, of how words and ideas are stowed away and smuggled through our memories, our minds and our hearts. It’s about theatre as a safe house for forbidden texts – a guarantee of civilisation and resistance even in the most barbaric and desolate times.” for more information and tickets, visit http://www.contemporaryartscenter.org/calendar/2017/09/28/tiago-rodrigues-by-heart

This is the second of two shows, the first is at The Mercantile Library on Tuesday, September 5th.

The artists:

David Corns
Elese Daniel
Cal Folger Day
Lizzy DuQuette
Sahar Heydari Fard
Manuel Iris
Josh Jessen
Jess Link
Napoleon Maddox
Nancy Paraskevopoulos
Stephen Slaughter
Nick Swartsell
Loraine Wible
Daniel Zimmer

The poem:

The New Colossus
by Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

This free performance is brought to you by Chase Public and The Mercantile Library, and The Contemporary Arts Center.

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Chase Public
1569 Chase Ave #4
Cincinnati, OH 45223

Thursday, September 7th
Doors 7:00
Show 7:30

Free!

BYOB, respectfully. Disrespectful B will be shunned with great contempt