{"id":1250,"date":"2012-04-02T18:30:34","date_gmt":"2012-04-02T22:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bcrw.barnard.edu\/?post_type=event&p=1250"},"modified":"2012-08-08T16:36:18","modified_gmt":"2012-08-08T20:36:18","slug":"the-window-sex-project","status":"publish","type":"event","link":"https:\/\/bcrw.barnard.edu\/staging\/2435\/event\/the-window-sex-project\/","title":{"rendered":"The Window Sex Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/p>\n

PROGRAM<\/a> ABOUT THE PROCESS<\/a> THANK YOU<\/a> RESOURCES<\/a> VIDEOS<\/a><\/p>\n

The Window Sex Project is a dance performance that tackles the everyday practice in which women are \u201cwindow shopped,\u201d—or forced to bear unsolicited harassment from men while walking on the street. An innovative performance grounded in personal experiences, feminist theory, and a collective need to take action, The Window Sex Project fosters conversation in the community about the need to eradicate unsolicited verbal harassment and restores agency to women by celebrating their bodies in a public artwork informed by members of the Harlem community, for the Harlem community. The work places women of varying races and body types on pedestals in an art gallery setting, forcing audiences to contend with the objectification of the female body in a contemporary society. The dance investigates how a woman\u2019s sexuality is perceived based on these physical attributes. It aims to equally celebrate all the bodies which are unique, and do not fit into generic models of womanhood.<\/p>\n

Produced by Sydnie L. Mosley \u201907, BCRW\u2019s first Alumna Fellow, the performance will be followed by a discussion with the dancers about their artistic process and about actions against street harassment that are taking place in New York City. The piece also includes a sound score orchestrated by Ebonie Smith \u201907 and integrates excerpts of \u201cCan I Get A Smile?,\u201d a one-woman theater show written and performed by Leah King \u201904.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Program<\/h3>\n

Click here<\/a> (PDF) to download the program, including participant bios.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Choreography devised by
\nSydnie L. Mosley<\/strong><\/p>\n

in collaboration with dancers
\nSarah Chien, Denae Hannah, Shoccara Marcus, Carrie Plew, Allegra Romita, Tiffany Spearman, Candace Thompson, Alexandra Joye Warren, Tara Willis<\/strong><\/p>\n

with movement and inspiration from community participants
\nKimberlynn Acevedo, Genesis Be, Nicola Briggs, Elizabeth Carmichael, Princess Dennis, Ferima Faye, Erica Frankel, Auzriel Hall, Alexis Harbour, Dash Harris, Monique Hazeur, Blair Hotchner, Leah King, Jamilah Lemeiux, Lucia Mattox, Monica Monfre, Maxine Montilus, Melissa Moschitto, Dawn Perry, Chloe Piazza, Meghan Sebold, Diondra Setorie, Kristin Simpson, Ebonie Smith, Ronethea Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n

Musical Direction
\nEbonie Smith<\/strong>
\nwith additional tracks
\nAuzriel Hall, Sam Cooke<\/strong><\/p>\n

Featuring excerpts from the one woman show “Can I Get A Smile?”
\nLeah King<\/strong><\/p>\n

Artwork
\nPrincess Dennis<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

About the Process<\/h3>\n

During summer 2011, women came together in Harlem to participate in Community Workshops. The workshops provided a supportive space for women to voice their concerns about street harassment, learn to manage harassment on a day-to-day basis, and fellowship through shared experiences.<\/p>\n

In conversation and in video recorded interviews, women shared their stories of harassment. Participants then completed task-based movement assignments to create their own dance phrases about their experiences, bodies and feelings.<\/p>\n

Their stories and movement phrases provided the basis for this work.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to learn more about The Window Sex Project: Lectures and Community Workshops, or for booking. <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

A Note from the Choreographer<\/h3>\n

Tonight’s performance represents the nexus of my layered and intersecting identities: artist and businesswoman, scholar and activist, working and broke, feminist and heterosexual, educated, black, woman, able-bodied and more. These identities inform the way that I observe and participate in the world. These identities both provide and deny me privilege, but nonetheless fuel my passion.<\/p>\n

This project—this activism in the name of feminism—came about because of the way I interact with the world. It started out as a fierce frustration with the way I felt moving through my day-to-day life. It coincided with a strong desire to create something specific, dynamic… sexy. It resolves in the gathering of community, talks & workshops, ongoing research & writing, and a grass roots effort to stop street harassment and empower women in the meanwhile.<\/p>\n

I am well aware that this issue is not new, nor is it cut and dry. It is complicated and messy, and each man or woman engages with it from his or her own perspective. But as bell hooks wisely tells us: \u201cThe significance of feminist movement,\u201d that is, The Window Sex Project and this performance space, \u201cis that it offers a new ideological meeting ground for the sexes, a space for criticism, struggle and transformation.\u201d I welcome the struggle that will lead us to meaningful transformation over time.<\/p>\n

I sincerely thank each and every one of you who have brought this vision to fruition. The dream is the truth. Onward.<\/p>\n

So much love,
\nSydnie<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Thank You<\/h3>\n

Thank you to every one who contributed to this work with time, money, resources and expertise. We would not be here without you. Special thanks to Barnard College, my rock star family Stanley and Crystal Mosley, and Greer Dorsey, the coolest roommate on earth, Ebonie Smith, and my right hand & company manager extraordinaire, Blair Hotchner. We did it! \u2665\u2665\u2665<\/p>\n

Individual Donors<\/strong>
\nVladimir Vukicevic, Sara Granstrom, Crystal Mosley, Jerome Colonna, Julie Joosten, Joi-\u00ad\u2010Marie McKenzie, Clark Jackson, Sheila Odesey, Rachel Selekman, Alisa Davis, John Wheatland, Katherine Friis, Anthonia Akitunde, Katie Chipungu, Amanda Ortel, Greer Dorsey, Erica Frankel, Aliya Mosby, Sydnee Wilson, Amy Wilhelm, Ashlee Tuck, Elizabeth Bergman, Melissa Moschitto, Sara Zorzi, Nyasha George, Amy Jacobus, Emily May, A. Nia Austin-\u00ad\u2010Edwards, Josephite Frs. & Bros. St. Peter Claver Church, Robert Flournoy, Nicola Briggs, Hugh & Robin Harvin, Nancy Romita, Daphne Larose, Jane Rosenthal<\/p>\n

In Kind Support<\/strong>
\nBarnard College Dance Department: Rehearsal Space
\nBarnard College Africana Studies Program: Office Space
\nBarnard Center for Research on Women: Research & Overall Support RINY Media: Photography and Videography
\nCitizens Committee of NYC: Flip Camera
\nHollaback!, INSPIRIT: Flip Cameras & Overall Support
\nLand Yoga: Performance Space
\nGrosvenor YMCA: Community Workshop Space
\nGroove With Me: Sound Equipment
\nBest Yet Market, Harlem: Community Workshop Food Donations Evelyn\u2019s Kitchen: Premiere Food Donations<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Resources<\/h3>\n

What do I do if I am harassed on the street or train?<\/strong><\/p>\n

IF you feel SAFE enough…<\/p>\n