Congratulations to Okorie Johnson, who received the Alliance Theater's Reiser Lab Grant to produce a reading of a work distilled from his solo cello show.
Liminal is a developing one man play that follows a spiritual cellist, who through his live-looping of music, generates multiple perspectives of his identity, explores the possibility of a liminal space between the physical and spiritual world, and engages the terrifying challenge of letting his music become the vehicle for messages from beyond.
This project is based on the music of experimental cellist and writer Okorie "OkCello" Johnson and explores his personal relationship with music, improvisation, and prayer. Okorie is honored to partner with two internationally renowned visual and mixed media artists to bring the world and the soul of this play to life.
Radcliffe Bailey is a painter, sculptor, and mixed media artist who utilizes the layering of imagery, culturally resonant materials, and text to explore themes of ancestry, race, and memory. Bailey believes that by translating his personal experiences, he can achieve an understanding of, and a healing from, a universal history. His work is often created out of found materials and certain pieces from his past, including traditional African sculpture, tintypes of his family members, piano keys, and Georgia red clay. Mr. Bailey will design and create the set for this play.
Fahamu Pecou is an interdisciplinary artist and scholar whose works combine observations on hip-hop, fine art and popular culture. Pecou's paintings, performance art, and academic work address concerns around contemporary representations of Black masculinity and how these images impact both the reading and performance of Black masculinity. Mr. Pecou will contribute video and multimedia aspects to the play. Both Mr. Bailey and Mr. Pecou will provide overall art direction to Liminal as well.