WITHIN A BOX

by Emily Gaines and Sydney Gaglio

 

Project Description

Within a Box is an experimental, audience-immersive piece designed to leave people questioning their everyday assumptions. The audience is divided into the roles of “animators” or “observers”. Each role has a job, one to be the voice of the audience and the other to be the listening ears of the audience. The goal is to examine the nature of stereotyping and judgements based on first impressions.

Artist Statement

Emily

By making connections and learning how to be honest with each other, we expand our capacities to empathize. Through empathy we are able to understand and recognize others’ struggles. My goal is to have people second guess their opinions and use their cognition to understand, rather than categorize, people. Activism is key, we have to remember to keep resisting and learn to overcome fear and ignorance. One of my ways of activism is through theater and education. Using immersive theater, sharing real stories, asking actors to show vulnerability on stage, all this prompts the audience to explore identity and dismantle society’s stereotypes. 

Sydney 

I create art that does not imitate life, it is life. Through audience immersive, experimental work a microcosm of the world is created, pushing people to explore themselves and the world they currently know. Art is vulnerable, and vulnerability is very powerful. Through vulnerability, we can make connections. When there is connection, there is understanding. And when there is understanding, there is connection. If we allow ourselves the ability to be vulnerable, to connect deeply with others, we can begin to celebrate difference. Giving ourselves the space to love and care for one another, and ourselves, is resistance. I practice resistance by creating art and performances that cause people to be uncomfortable and question what they know, and then move to a greater place of knowledge. 

Faculty Advisor: Steve Marsh