January, 2021
January 28, 2021
I started attending a stimulating, supportive remote workshop, entitled Boston BIPOC Artists in Conversation: Applying Collective Liberation sponsored by Assets for Artists, through the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MOCA), and produced by genius artists and social justice facilitators Deen Rawlins-Harris and Daniel Park. In it, we’ve been discussing identity, how we want to present ourselves to the world, what we love about our self ascribed gender and race, tools to identify structural oppression and generate liberated art. In so doing, I’ve found that I relish sometimes choosing not to label myself as anything in particular when I’m talking about my art.
I’ve been doing a lot of writing and reediting my bio for some huge developments coming soon. Consulting with co-mentors and friends on the best wording to represent my ideas and achievements. “A bio is self expression. Not a self defense or justification,” says a dear friend. It’s empowering to get rid of the qualifications and values that have been imposed by the traditional modes of representation.
January 15, 2021
I’ve been developing these different branches of Nourish since March, 2020:
I’m so buoyed to have been selected for a fully funded Artist Residency at SubCircle Residency to rehearse and develop Nourish!
Sponsored by SubCircle Residency with a donation from Monkeyhouse to support a New England based artist-in-residence, I’m honored to receive a week’s time in a beautiful, safe space to delve deeply into my movement practices - my first opportunity to do so since March, 2020.
Says Co-Artistic Director, Scott McPheeters, “Subcircle Residency, founded in 2019, is an artist residency located in Biddeford, ME., that prioritizes supporting performance-based artists. Jessica Roseman came highly recommended to us as a potential, future artist-in-residence by Karen Krolak of Boston-based arts non-profit, Monkeyhouse. Jessica’s residency proposal honestly reflected the difficulties of being a working artist in 2020, while also showcasing a dedication to her practice that seeks to build community and work with underserved populations. We are thrilled to offer Jessica a residency with us in June 2021 and gratefully acknowledge a donation from Monkeyhouse which has enabled us to support two New England artists in our upcoming residency season.”
NACHMO Boston (North American Choreographer’s Month, in which artists are invited to make new dance work in January. In Boston, we’ve been sharing video clips over Zoom, attending meetings with other creative professionals for business development, learning videography skills in workshops, and online support meetups. NACHMO Boston will present the films in progress February 13. Visit NACHMO Boston for more information. For NACHMO, I’ve been hosting Mental Health Happy Hours, and I was delighted to be a Critical Feedback Mentor for other choreographers.
I’m partnering with Lexington Community Farm (LexFarm), where I will be Artist in Residence.
In relating my professional dance work with the local land, I’m asking at LexFarm:
How is food (in)security tied into wellbeing for all families? How can dance relate with farming?
Spring to Fall, I’ll be In Residence as choreographer. I’ll schedule regular practices at the farm. I’ll engage with visitors of all ages and abilities, offering creative connections between dance and growing food. As CSA members pick produce, I’ll provide observational directives and movement ideas to enhance their farming experiences. In October, we’ll harvest how the community has grown from the Residency. LexFarm has been wonderful in supporting my creative vision for racial justice in Lexington.
Additionally for Nourish, I’m gathering a group of Cambridge Black mothers to amplify and share their expertise in personal well being. I’ll facilitate weekly small group Zoom sessions with Black moms, referred from the The Center for Families (CFF), under the Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs. Together we will collaboratively cross the digital divide and create a meaningful artistic dance experience.