Velocity Presents: G2 – King Lear in the Forest [In-Person Only]
Sliding scale admission: $0–25
⚠️ Public safety notice ⚠️
NWFF patrons will be required to double-mask while in the building. Disposable masks are available at the door for those who need them. To be admitted, patrons ages 5+ will also be required to present EITHER proof of COVID-19 vaccination OR a negative result from a COVID-19 test administered within the last 48 hours by an official testing facility. Boosters are strongly recommended, though not required for entry.
NWFF is adapting to evolving recommendations to protect the public from COVID-19. Read more about their policies regarding cleaning, masks, and capacity limitations here.
Visiting Artist
** Artist Beth Graczyk, of the artist duo G^2, will be in attendance. **
About
King Lear in the Forest (KLIF) unravels the perceived and evolving identities of duoship G^2 as they traverse a metaphoric forest, generating a chimera of kinetically contemplative and visually enticing psychological territories. The work manifests both identity and post-identity, where the individual labels that are afforded or placed on either of them have the potential to become momentarily blurred with each other and the audience.
In May 2021, G^2 had a 2-week residency at The Center at West Park in NYC where they built a site-specific version of their on-going work King Lear in the Forest Part I & II. They worked with celebrated lighting designer Sarah Lurie, and three 12-foot original drawings created by visual artist Cristina De Miguel. The film, shot by Daniel Hess and edited by G^2, is the result of their 2-week exploration at The Center at West Park.
“This piece is for those who get caught between labels and identities. Individuals who skirt the fence of belonging to either or. KLIF is about taking on and shedding identity constructs imposed by society today while surfacing the erotic desires, both pleasant and unpleasant, that arise with being human.” – The Center at West Park
About G^2:
JOHN MARIA GUTIERREZ is an actor, dancer, creator who performs on screen and stage nationally and internationally. Originally from a small island presently called NYC, John’s works combine bboy and postmodern aesthetics, original music, singing, and experimental theater to unwind a complex urban disparity brought on by social and systemic failings. Since graduating from NYU Tisch’s Experimental Theater Win,g John has performed with companies such as Miguel Gutierrez, Big Dance Theater, Pilobolus, Gesel Mason, Raja Feather Kelly, BAIRA, Full Circle Souljahs, Jeanette Stoner and Dancers. He is a graduate of the Terry Knickerbocker Studio and faculty at Peridance Center. John is a proud member of the Great Jones Rep Company of La Mama and G^2, an ongoing collaboration with Beth Graczyk which recently presented work at Judson Church and the Shanghai Tower in China. John is also a 2020-21 Artist in Residence at La Mama as well as a BAAD/Pepatian Dance Your Futures artist.
BETH GRACZYK is a Brooklyn-based dance artist and scientist who aims to spark creative dialogue through performance, teaching, and contemporary dance-based projects with a focus on LGBTQIA+ and disability inclusion. Graczyk has performed throughout the United States and internationally in Japan, Ecuador, France, China and India for the past 18 years. In NYC, her solo works have been presented by Gibney, La MaMa, Judson Church, Jack, Triskelion, CPR, Movement Research, Oye Group, Kraine Theater, Chez Bushwick and through Pioneers Goes East Collective. She has collaborative partnerships with John Gutierrez (G^2), BAIRA in Detroit, is a resident choreographer for Pioneers Go East Collective, and is on Faculty at Peridance Contemporary Dance Center. Concurrently, she is an author on 10 science publications in the field of cancer research and a Research Specialist at Rockefeller University. She co-directed the performance company Salt Horse in Seattle from 2008-2016.
About Velocity Dance Center:
Velocity is Seattle’s center dedicated to contemporary dance, and an essential incubator for new dance in our region. With artist-driven, community-responsive programming, Velocity provides vital resources and advocacy for one of the most active dance communities in the nation. Velocity’s programming includes classes, workshops, residencies, performances, discussions, and two annual international festivals.