SILENCE AND INTIMACY
Jessica Emmanuel + Shagha Ariannia + Thalia Rodgers, 2020
Digital Exhibition 08
"Life began in water and eventually some forms of life crawled out of it, though some, like the whales, changed their minds about the land and crawled back in. The earth is beautiful but uncertain."
- Gary Indiana, Going North: Roni Horn, Vol. 1
Jessica Emmanuel + Shagha Ariannia + Thalia Rodgers, 2020
Digital Exhibition 08
"Life began in water and eventually some forms of life crawled out of it, though some, like the whales, changed their minds about the land and crawled back in. The earth is beautiful but uncertain."
- Gary Indiana, Going North: Roni Horn, Vol. 1
internal watercolors of thought
a separation of anxieties
silence finds intimacy
reflections of a mother's conversation
a jewelry box of precious cards
a state of of the world through words
silent sounds of intimacy
a state of internal being
a state of exposure
intimacy comes into play
intimacy between thoughts
intimacy between community
intimacy between the things we make
silence plays a loud tone
projections of a far tomorrow
splashes of pink in the desert
undertones of dark skin against sand
listen to the silence of intimacy
a separation of anxieties
silence finds intimacy
reflections of a mother's conversation
a jewelry box of precious cards
a state of of the world through words
silent sounds of intimacy
a state of internal being
a state of exposure
intimacy comes into play
intimacy between thoughts
intimacy between community
intimacy between the things we make
silence plays a loud tone
projections of a far tomorrow
splashes of pink in the desert
undertones of dark skin against sand
listen to the silence of intimacy
Self-isolated viewing of SILENCE AND INTIMACY in Little Italy, Omaha:
Photos Courtesy of Dan Schwalm
Video from Shagha Ariannia:
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Photos Courtesy of Thalia Rodgers & Shagha Ariannia
Video from Thalia Rodgers:
Video Courtesy of Thalia Rodgers
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Video from Jessica Emmanuel:
Video Courtesy of Jessica Emmanuel
ROOT ROT
Jessica Emmanuel
Jessica Emmanuel
History
Knowledge
Protection
Disconnection
The pain of not knowing
The pain of knowing
The relief
The weight
Where do the roots lead
There is a sickness
A poison
So many symptoms
So many systems
Health systems
Education systems
Criminal justice system
Root system
Gender systems
Payment systems
Right systems
Left systems
Parasitic systems
Healing systems
Systems that deplete
Systems that survive off of your demise
Parasites
Aphids
Infections
The fungus is here to help
A system for communication
Silent life givers
Silent life takers
Systems for growth
Systems for annihilation
Systems for expansion
Systems for growth
Some things just need the right nutrients
If you really care you'd nourish it
Really look and listen and come from a place of care
Hydration, food, proper shelter, love, encouragement
The seed, the root, the stem, the tree, the fruit
Repeat
They all want to expand but we keep them in pots
Some can only survive in pots that's so wild
Get rooted. Get grounded. Learn who you are.
Learn what you're made of
The soil doesn't lie
Listen
Listen to the soil
Listen to that universal truth
Listen to what has been and will always be and what could be
After the fire if you leave the burned trees alone they will provide nutrients for the new trees that are trying to grow.
Leave the ancestors be. Do not disturb them. They are busy giving the next generation what they need. Leave them be. There is healing work to be done. They are working hard. They are giving love. They are giving life.
So many broken systems make us distrust all systems.
Some things are just rooted in toxic soil with toxic seeds and toxic fruit.
Some plants are poisonous.
Avoid that one by any means necessary.
Some plants give fruit that is full of life and energy and love.
I started to get this overwhelming feeling that I just wanted to sink my feet deep into the dirt.
Rooting. Grounding. Centering.
Once I did it, I understood that I really wanted to connect with the root of me which meant connection deeper than what my physical presence is. There is more. Your history will support your growth. There is so much more. It's time to dig. It's time to root.
I used to think I was bad at it but it turned out I just wasn't paying attention to what was needed. I was following all the rules and guidelines, but every single time death came. I gave up for a longtime.
I tried again, but this time I studied. I listened. I learned. I observed. I changed things up. I watched. I listened. I noticed what was needed. I acted when needed and then I listened some more. I made mistakes. Of course. I'm trying. I overfed and underfed. Over watered and under watered. Too hot. Too cold. Too much light. Not enough light. Didn't notice. Was too anxious. Did too little. Did too much. All things have consequences. I let the parasites win. I didn't even know I had set up a perfect environment for them to thrive. To steal life. I didn't notice. I thought I was doing my best. I've learned to pay attention. Never assume everything is alright, but always believing everything will be alright. You'll figure it out.
Knowledge
Protection
Disconnection
The pain of not knowing
The pain of knowing
The relief
The weight
Where do the roots lead
There is a sickness
A poison
So many symptoms
So many systems
Health systems
Education systems
Criminal justice system
Root system
Gender systems
Payment systems
Right systems
Left systems
Parasitic systems
Healing systems
Systems that deplete
Systems that survive off of your demise
Parasites
Aphids
Infections
The fungus is here to help
A system for communication
Silent life givers
Silent life takers
Systems for growth
Systems for annihilation
Systems for expansion
Systems for growth
Some things just need the right nutrients
If you really care you'd nourish it
Really look and listen and come from a place of care
Hydration, food, proper shelter, love, encouragement
The seed, the root, the stem, the tree, the fruit
Repeat
They all want to expand but we keep them in pots
Some can only survive in pots that's so wild
Get rooted. Get grounded. Learn who you are.
Learn what you're made of
The soil doesn't lie
Listen
Listen to the soil
Listen to that universal truth
Listen to what has been and will always be and what could be
After the fire if you leave the burned trees alone they will provide nutrients for the new trees that are trying to grow.
Leave the ancestors be. Do not disturb them. They are busy giving the next generation what they need. Leave them be. There is healing work to be done. They are working hard. They are giving love. They are giving life.
So many broken systems make us distrust all systems.
Some things are just rooted in toxic soil with toxic seeds and toxic fruit.
Some plants are poisonous.
Avoid that one by any means necessary.
Some plants give fruit that is full of life and energy and love.
I started to get this overwhelming feeling that I just wanted to sink my feet deep into the dirt.
Rooting. Grounding. Centering.
Once I did it, I understood that I really wanted to connect with the root of me which meant connection deeper than what my physical presence is. There is more. Your history will support your growth. There is so much more. It's time to dig. It's time to root.
I used to think I was bad at it but it turned out I just wasn't paying attention to what was needed. I was following all the rules and guidelines, but every single time death came. I gave up for a longtime.
I tried again, but this time I studied. I listened. I learned. I observed. I changed things up. I watched. I listened. I noticed what was needed. I acted when needed and then I listened some more. I made mistakes. Of course. I'm trying. I overfed and underfed. Over watered and under watered. Too hot. Too cold. Too much light. Not enough light. Didn't notice. Was too anxious. Did too little. Did too much. All things have consequences. I let the parasites win. I didn't even know I had set up a perfect environment for them to thrive. To steal life. I didn't notice. I thought I was doing my best. I've learned to pay attention. Never assume everything is alright, but always believing everything will be alright. You'll figure it out.
Photos Courtesy of Jessica Emmanuel
Email conversation between Shagha Ariannia and Mike Nesbit regarding this digital exhibition:
About the Artists:
Jessica Emmanuel is a Los Angeles-based dancer, choreographer, performance artist, educator and curator. She studied Dance & Choreography at the BOCES Cultural Arts Center in New York and is a graduate of The California Institute of the Arts with a BFA in Performance & Choreography. Jessica is the founder of Mothership LA and a co-founder of the theater based artist collective Poor Dog Group. Her work has been presented internationally at the Bootleg Theater, Live Arts Exchange Festival, the New Original Works Festival at REDCAT, Montserrat DTLA, Highways Performance Space, Zoukak Studios (Lebanon), The Getty Villa, Interferences Festival (Romania), Baruch Performing Arts Center, The Curtis R. Preim Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) and The Contemporary Art Museum Santa Barbara. She has choreographed/performed for Poor Dog Group, Heidi Duckler Dance Theater, The MOVEMENT Movement, Ania Catherine Genevieve Carson, Bryan Reynolds, Paul Outlaw, No)one. Art House and Stacy Dawson Sterns. Jessica has also curated art events at various locations in Los Angeles.
www.jessicaemmanuel.com
Born and raised in Iran, Shagha Ariannia is an interdisciplinary visual artist. Her works have been exhibited at the Vincent Price Art Museum, Meliksetian Briggs Gallery, University of California Irvine; LAXART; 18th Street Art Center; Commonwealth and Council; the Torrance Art Museum, Galarie der Hochschule, Braunschweig, Germany and Gallery MOMO, Capetown. She received her MFA from CalArts and BA from the University of California, Irvine. She is a 2016 recipient for the California Community Foundation Fellowship and attended Bemis center Residency in fall 2018.
www.instagram.com/clubshagha
Thalia Rodgers is an artist and educator working in Omaha, NE. They received their BFA in painting and drawing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Rodgers recently had their second solo exhibition You make my heart smile but you also make my eyes cry at The Union for Contemporary Art, where they teach painting to youth who live in North Omaha area codes. Their life and how they define themselves is in a constant state of transformation.
www.thaliarodgers.hotglue.me
Jessica Emmanuel is a Los Angeles-based dancer, choreographer, performance artist, educator and curator. She studied Dance & Choreography at the BOCES Cultural Arts Center in New York and is a graduate of The California Institute of the Arts with a BFA in Performance & Choreography. Jessica is the founder of Mothership LA and a co-founder of the theater based artist collective Poor Dog Group. Her work has been presented internationally at the Bootleg Theater, Live Arts Exchange Festival, the New Original Works Festival at REDCAT, Montserrat DTLA, Highways Performance Space, Zoukak Studios (Lebanon), The Getty Villa, Interferences Festival (Romania), Baruch Performing Arts Center, The Curtis R. Preim Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) and The Contemporary Art Museum Santa Barbara. She has choreographed/performed for Poor Dog Group, Heidi Duckler Dance Theater, The MOVEMENT Movement, Ania Catherine Genevieve Carson, Bryan Reynolds, Paul Outlaw, No)one. Art House and Stacy Dawson Sterns. Jessica has also curated art events at various locations in Los Angeles.
www.jessicaemmanuel.com
Born and raised in Iran, Shagha Ariannia is an interdisciplinary visual artist. Her works have been exhibited at the Vincent Price Art Museum, Meliksetian Briggs Gallery, University of California Irvine; LAXART; 18th Street Art Center; Commonwealth and Council; the Torrance Art Museum, Galarie der Hochschule, Braunschweig, Germany and Gallery MOMO, Capetown. She received her MFA from CalArts and BA from the University of California, Irvine. She is a 2016 recipient for the California Community Foundation Fellowship and attended Bemis center Residency in fall 2018.
www.instagram.com/clubshagha
Thalia Rodgers is an artist and educator working in Omaha, NE. They received their BFA in painting and drawing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Rodgers recently had their second solo exhibition You make my heart smile but you also make my eyes cry at The Union for Contemporary Art, where they teach painting to youth who live in North Omaha area codes. Their life and how they define themselves is in a constant state of transformation.
www.thaliarodgers.hotglue.me