What does it mean to gather virtually, to truly hold space across our screens?
on-off.site recently explored these possibilities with the Bay Area-based organization Poets Reading the News. We gathered together for a time-based, interactive poetry reading to reflect upon the Trump presidency and the shift to the Biden-Harris administration. As the words flowed from one poet to the next, on-off.site led somatic exercises that grounded audience members in the present, in the physical, and in the collective. Facilitators J Spagnolo, Elle Aviv Newton, and Camilo Garzón kept us present throughout.
Call and response
Poets henry 7 reneau jr., Gary Margolis, Hyun-Joo Kim, and Susana Praver-Pérez centered us in a historic moment with their words. Each processed the last four years through voice and verse—speaking to headlines and activism. Many reflected on the fear and joy of current events, the insurrection and inauguration. Each set of readings added to the next, forming a natural progression throughout the program. So did the somatic experiences, progressing from breath to gesture to voice, culminating in mantras for creative resistance.
I choose to be like the teachers in my life in all that I do
—Camilo Garzón
Visualizing collectivity
on-off.site developed a unique graphic identity to ground this event, abstracting the letter “I” in four different ways. Trump’s rhetoric in presidential speeches uniquely and overwhelmingly focused on that pronoun, as well as his own name, instead of the collective “we.” Repetition in the graphic conveys convergence and collectivity, and the movement references the rhythmic qualities of poetry, speech, and breath. These individual manipulations also reference the poets’ speaking from their personal perspectives.
Toward the future
As a group, we moved from reflection to action, from silence to voice, from past to present. We’ll carry the resonance of today’s words with us going forward and hope you will too.
I am in community; We are in community
— Elle Aviv Newton
Watch documentation of the reading, and share your own mantra with us via social media or the comments below.
Side notes from oos
One of the most inspiring parts of the project was the nimble ways in which we were able to work with PRTN to develop a thoughtful, timely, and community-centered event. Within a couple of weeks, we conceptualized, curated, and promoted this gathering. It made us at oos rethink how we can work with artists and beyond, and we’d like to extend special thanks to Camilo Garzón and J Spagnolo. We’re hopeful for the potentialities of digital space, creativity, and community.
With optimism,
SS + SG