Embodying Empathy
November 4, 2021
The We in Me: Embodying Empathy, an evening of programming that centers empathy as a pathway towards civic engagement with performance, movement, embodiment, conversation, and music.
Attendance: 75
Artists served: 22
Embodying Empathy took place in The Box’s large rectangular parking lot and showcased a two-story model home from artist Corazón del Sol’s low-income housing project, Jardin de Estrellas. Jardin des Estrellas is del Sol’s a community-focused project inspired in response to lack of low-income housing opportunities in Los Angeles, done in collaboration with Oasis Cannabis and ARCspace. Corazón introduced the project and the model home prototype was onsite for viewing by program guests.
As part of the evening’s programming, The Los Angeles Poverty Department presented an excerpt from “A New Compassionate Downtown,” directed by John Malpede and Henriëtte Brouwers and commissioned by the Museum of Contemporary Art for We Rise 2021. The theatrical work, performed by Skid Row artists, considers an alternative marketing approach that draws people who value compassion to Downtown L.A. Next, event guests were led through an embodied practice by homeLA collaborator, Jay Carlon, who choreographed our perception towards empathy. Jay then joined Corazón, Pastor Cue–the founder of the “Church Without Walls” which serves those experiencing homeless in DTLA’s Skid Row–and the audience in a conversation facilitated by Bernard Brown and Gabriel Gutierrez. The evening came to a close after Cubanos Percussion entertained guests with their Afro-cuban sounds. Cubanos Percussion is a group of musicians who call Skid Row their home. See the evening’s program here.
This event was part of The We in Me, homeLA’s pilot education program that considers homelessness through the lens of empathy and civic engagement. The We in Me furthers homeLA’s mission to promote intersectionality and cultivate inclusivity through the embodied exchange of ideas around varied contextual imaginings of “home.”
The We in Me: Embodying Empathy was produced in partnership with The Box and The Box artists, Corazón del Sol and Los Angeles Poverty Department.
This programming was made possible through the support of homeLA Advisory Board members. This activity is supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov. homeLA is fiscally sponsored by Fulcrum Arts.
Press
LA Downtown News, Empathy program diversifies offerings to understand homelessness
