Tony Nominee Daniel J. Watts Is Doing Great, and Painting In The East Village
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Get those paintbrushes ready. Starting today through June 14, Tony nominee Daniel J. Watts is giving folks an inside look at his painting process with a live residency entitled Process of Saying Yes (in partnership with Long Gallery Harlem) at the East Village Basement downtown.
He will showcase his signature freestyle dance painting technique with elements of improvisation, live looping, spoken word, and storytelling for 90 minutes of unadulterated freedom and authenticity. Each evening will culminate in the sale of the created work.
Night after night, Watts will be accompanied by a rotation of Featured Musicians: Tony-nominated orchestrator/composer Michael Thurber (Just In Time; Goddess), Grammy-nominated composer/bassist Divinity Roxx (Divi Roxx Kids; The Beyonce Experience), Julian Rozzell, Jr. (The Skin of Our Teeth), MïRÄNDÄ (Harness; LMK), DJ DUGGZ (Motown The Musical; S.N.O.B), and Ari Grooves (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical; S.N.O.B). They will be paired with Special Guest performers Daniela Bauer, Nick Biello, Louis Cato, Leo Coltrane, Jake Goldbas, Alphonso Horne, Dana Marie Ingraham, Sunny Jain, Lucas Kadish, Kaila Mullady, Taharqa Patterson, & Vee. See event page for specific performer dates.
A few days before COVID-19 caused the 2020 Broadway shutdown, Patricia McGregor, long-time collaborator and Artistic Director of the renowned New York Theatre Workshop, floated the idea of Watts dancing in paint. The following summer, a chance encounter with LA-based visual artist, Upendo Taylor, helped turn the idea into a reality. “I told Upendo I was thinking about it. The next day he showed up with a large piece of canvas and said, ‘Let’s get to it!’” The artist explains the process is more than creative, it is also cathartic. “I didn’t realize how much the pandemic was affecting me until I started painting. I finally had a vehicle to help me transmute the feelings of immense uncertainty.”
The current news cycle continues to reflect ceaseless international conflicts, political turmoil, alienating algorithms, and a world incorporating artificial intelligence. Process of Saying Yes is an opportunity for audiences to witness something being made in real time by real people. The artist says, “As a painter, I spend most of my time in a silo. The residency affords me the privilege to engage with community. My hope is that operating in a space of abundant ‘yes’ will help me become more definitive with my ‘no’.”
In conjunction with the partnership with Long Gallery Harlem (2073 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr Blvd), selected works will be exhibited and available, at the gallery, from the end of the residency through July 31. Gallery director and founder, Lewis Long, states, “A decade ago, Daniel performed a version of his show ‘The Jam’ here in conjunction with visual artist Dareece Walker. We have had the privilege to witness his artistic growth over the last 10 years and we’re thrilled to have him return to Long Gallery Harlem with his own visual work.” A live performance will take place at the gallery on July 4.
For tickets and more information, visit here.
