“ To hope is to gamble. It's to bet on your futures, on your desires,
on the possibility that an open heart and uncertainty is better than gloom and safety. To hope is dangerous, and yet it is
the opposite of fear, for to live is to risk. ”
Rebecca Solnit
In response to the unfolding crisis created by COVID-19, Blindspot Collective extends our sincere condolences to those already impacted, deep gratitude to those working around the clock to address the pandemic, and best wishes to everyone navigating this ever-evolving situation. In this period of uncertainty and isolation, the team at Blindspot Collective remains steadfast in our belief that theatre as an act of communal storytelling is a vital means of human connection, resilience, and hope. To that end, we are currently engaged in three projects in collaboration with local artists and communities, and invite you to participate in whatever way you can.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Due to COVID-19, and the mandated closures and social distancing measures that were enacted to combat the pandemic, Blindspot Collective was forced to indefinitely postpone two productions scheduled for spring and summer of 2020. These cancellations represent a loss of approximately $50,000 or more than half our annual budget. Most of the projects outlined above are being done on a volunteer basis by artists who are choosing to participate despite having lost all means of gainful employment.
If you are able and interested in supporting these efforts, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. Blindspot Collective is a nonprofit, 501c3 organization and your donation will directly support artists and theatre makers in San Diego.
walks of life
Walks of Life is an original work of auditory theatre commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse featuring short scenes by playwrights and composers from across the country. In the midst of a pandemic that fractures and isolates our communities, this aural experience offers the opportunity to imaginatively reconnect with each other by bearing witness to life's intimate moments captured entirely in sound. Although similar to traditional radio plays, Walks of Life leverages modern technology so that participants experience the performance while walking independently through their own neighborhood. Over the course of three parts, each approximately thirty minutes long, audiences will be introduced to a few of the characters and stories that might be unfolding in the homes around them.
Visit La Jolla Playhouse's website to access the first three episodes.
You can also find each episode on Spotify, Apple, Google, or wherever you listen and download original podcasts
REFRACTIONS:
a collection of human anthems
Refractions: A Collection of Human Anthems is an opportunity for those who are grieving during this period of physical distancing to collaborate with artists and create original music inspired by the individual who was lost. Of the many heartbreaks this pandemic has caused, the inability for friends and families to gather and grieve the loss of loved ones is tragic and devastating. Whether the result of coronavirus or other causes and regardless of culture or faith, our means of celebrating and remembering those who have died has been disrupted. As grief becomes a persistent presence in many of our lives, we are left to process the loss in isolation.
With Refractions, bereaved volunteer participants are invited to have a conversation with an artist from Blindspot Collective who has been trained in sensitive conversation practices, to share about the life of a loved one who has passed. The artist will then collaborate with a songwriter or composer to develop an original piece of music inspired by the memories of that individual, and a recording of the music will be made to celebrate their life. While artists cannot contribute in the remarkable ways of doctors, nurses, grocery clerks, delivery workers, and countless others, we are honored to elevate the lives and stories of the departed while reverberating expressions of love and loss within our community.
How to get involved:
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If you have lost a loved in the midst of physical distancing measures and wish to participate, please fill out this form. A member of our team will contact you to arrange a conversation with an artist who will then develop an original song inspired by the individual who passed away.
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If you are able, please consider making a donation to this project on our GoFundMe page. Every dollar raised will directly support the participating artists.
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With express approval from participants, the songs will be made available via social media in the coming weeks. Follow us or sign up for our email list to receive regular updates.
This project is made possible with generous support from
LUCID STREAM
Lucid Stream is a celebration of creativity and imagination even in the midst of pandemic, drawing inspiration from “Choose Your Own Adventure” books and the surrealist tradition of the “Exquisite Corpse.” In a fever dream that reflects her recent binge-watching habits, a pregnant writer in New York City journeys to the far reaches of her subconscious in a series of adventures (and scenes) that are each written by a new writer, based solely on the limited context of the previous scene, and culminate in choices the audience will make to shape the story. The development of this production is ongoing with the aim of presenting the show when physical distancing measures are eased.
How to get involved:
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To date, twenty writers have contributed with the possibility for many more to participate in the coming weeks. Although writers may select who they pass the project onto from within their own network, we will periodically support artists by connecting them with other writers. If you wish to be on our list of potential collaborators, please email us at submissions@blindspotcollective.org and include “Lucid Stream” in the subject line.
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It is our hope to present a full production of this project at a later date. Follow us on social media or sign up for our email list to receive regular updates.