Elements of Being in Venice
“Elements of Being” debuted at Palazzo Bembo in Italy on April 20th. It will be on view until November 2024. Check out the event recaps below!
Support our AIRIE artists in Venice! Become an impact sponsor of “Elements of Being”
“Elements of Being” is an immersive, multisensory experience fusing art and activism through a narrative-based installation. Presented by AIRIE and We Oppose Violence Everywhere Now (WOVEN), this groundbreaking collaboration intertwines diverse voices and art forms as catalysts for environmental, social, and racial justice.
See a behind-the-scenes look below at creating “Elements of Being” below, featuring Gentry Isaiah George, dancer, choreographer, and 2024 AIRIE Fellow. George’s dance composition explores the power of movement as a narrative of environmental equality. Photo credit Givanete Castillo. See more images from this session with Cornelius Tulloch HERE. Header image: Elements of Being, Cornelius Tulloch, 2022
“AIRIE is proud to announce in partnership with WOVEN, Elements of Being, a narrative-based installation debuting at the European Cultural Center (ECC) Personal Structures exhibition in Venice. In its seventh edition of the biennial contemporary art exhibition, Personal Structures will be on view from April 20th until November 2024 at the Palazzo Bembo in Venice, Italy.
Per the ECC website, “A wide selection of artworks from internationally renowned and emerging artists, photographers, and sculptors as well as worldwide academic institutions will be featured. This exhibition is intended to encourage dialogue, cultural exchange, and idea-sharing among its participants, exploring the themes of Time, Space, and Existence from a variety of perspectives.”
AIRIE and WOVEN invite viewers to an affirming space where diverse narratives of climate change and underrepresented voices intersect to create intersectional environmental dialogue. The experience explores the convergence of interdisciplinary choral music, painting, opera, performance, and dance. Inspired by the regenerative power of fire, symbolizing both destruction and renewal, the installation delves into the Everglades ecosystem and the prescribed burns conducted by the National Park Service to mitigate wildfires and foster regrowth. Through this exploration, fire becomes a multifaceted metaphor for humanity's role in addressing ecological crises and fostering collective action for environmental stewardship.
“Elements of Being”, curated by AIRIE Artistic Director Cornelius Tulloch with support from T. Robertson Carter, blends evocative soundscape compositions with recordings from the Everglades, an original opera piece by Kunya Rowley, as well as spoken word by Arsimmer McCoy, immersing audiences in a symphony of sounds. A dance composition from Gentry Isaiah George explores the power of movement as a narrative of environmental preservation and equality. See more about “Elements of Being” from Cornelius in the video below.
AIRIE in Venice Opening Events
ECC Palazzo Bembo Opening
On April 20th, The Palazzo Bembo, a venue steeped in rich history, opened its storied doors for an exclusive preview of the 7th edition of “Personal Structures” by the European Cultural Centre (ECC Italy) titled Beyond Boundaries.
Art and exhibitions by 200 artists and multidisciplinary creatives from 51 different countries were explored to exhibitors and special guests, including the unveiling of “Elements of Being” by AIRIE in collaboration with WOVEN. This immersive multisensory experience showcases diverse voices and art forms from AIRIE artist fellows. The work, a fusion of art and activism, curated by AIRIE Artistic Director Cornelius Tulloch with the support of T. Robertson Carter, is designed to ignite collective action for environmental, social, and racial justice.
Set on the Grand Canal with views of the Rialto Bridge, the evening's guests reveled in the art, libations, and live music with an exceptional spoken word performance by AIRIE Fellow and Residency Coordinator, Arsimmer McCoy, complemented by a bassist.
AIRIE x WOVEN Apéritifs
AIRIE and WOVEN celebrated their Venice debut and “Elements of Being” with an intimate reception. The warmth of a Venice home surrounded guests, thanks to interior designer Ronald Martin of Ronald Martin Studio and his partner, who opened doors to their private palazzo on the Grand Canal with views of the Peggy Guggenheim. Guests enjoyed apéritifs and hors d'oeuvres with homemade Venetian favorites and beats by Ventiain DJ Lorenzo in the courtyard. Sounds from “Elements of Being” was the sensory backdrop for a performance by Arsimmer McCoy.
Special Guests included Franklin Sirmans, Director of Pérez Art Museum Miami; Wolfgang Stump & Barbara Bruns of COSMO Art & Science Foundation; Curator Kimberly Drew; Jafari Sinclaire Allen, Columbia University Professor of African American & African Diaspora Studies; Heike Dempster of National YoungArts Foundation; Claude Grunitzky of The Equity Alliance; Kalila Abdur-Razzaq, New York University Program Manager; and Artist Immanuel J.
Earth Requiem, an interdisciplinary performance and installation conceived by Diana Wege, is presented as the nexus between environmental and social justice orchestrated by WOVEN Creative Director Klay Enos with four movements written by composers Errollyn Wallen, Eve Beglarian, Jeff Beal, and Sophy Him. Earth Requiem seeks to unify all people through a shared love for the planet.
This collaboration between AIRIE x WOVEN unveiling in Venice represents a meeting of creative voices committed to igniting meaningful change. As art transcends boundaries, it becomes a powerful force for advocacy, inviting all to witness the urgent dialogue unfolding in the artistic landscape. Elements of Being explores a transformative course toward an environmentally sustainable and socially equitable future for the planet and under-acknowledged communities through collective action.
About Woven
We Oppose Violence Everywhere Now (WOVEN) is a nonprofit organization aspiring to end violence in our lifetime. Founded in 2013 by New York activist and artist Diana Wege, WOVEN has expanded its vision to end violence against humanity, end intentional cruelty against animals, and find solutions to protect and preserve the natural environment.
About AIRIE
Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit operating in Everglades National Park and the Greater Miami Area. AIRIE empowers artists to think creatively and critically about their relationship to the environment with a mission of revealing new narratives and solutions for social and environmental change. AIRIE's immersive residency program allows artists to live, research, and create inside Everglades National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site currently in danger of disappearing forever.
