SUPERFUND SOLILOQUIES: A PARTICIPATORY PUBLIC ART MAKING WORKSHOP ALONG NEWTOWN CREEK
Produced by: Ray Jordan Achan & EXILED TONGUES
An event featured and done in partnership with Climate Group for Climate Week NYC, Sept 17-24, 2023.
***PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR THE TIME, LOCATION & AGENDA FOR EACH WORKSHOP***
Superfund Soliloquies is a participatory public art making workshop where community members will have the choice to contribute thoughts, words, phrases and gestures into a series of soliloquies, relating to the history and future of Newtown Creek, to be performed on the last day of Climate Week on September 24th at the Newtown Creek Nature Walk. Over the course of several days during Climate Week, an artist will be stationed at various public access points along Newtown Creek (neighborhoods such as Maspeth, East Williamsburg, Long Island City and Greenpoint) Community members will have the opportunity to learn about Newtown Creek's designation as a Superfund site, and have the opportunity to contribute theatrical elements including words and gestures towards a collective soliloquy to be performed at the end of the week. Participants will also receive a customized zine about environmental justice related to Newtown Creek.
SCHEDULE FOR SUPERFUND SOLILOQUIES
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 8AM - 11AM AT THE NEWTOWN CREEK NATURE WALK
“TELL ME ABOUT THE WATER”
On Sunday, September 17th from 8am to 11am, the community is invited to the Newtown Creek Nature Walk at 99 Paidge Avenue, to meet with artist, Ray Jordan Achan to answer the question "Tell me about the water, and what it means to you". Participants will be provided with materials to write, and have the option to contribute gestures. All materials will be repurposed for a performance on the final day of Climate Week on September 24th at 6pm at the Newtown Creek Nature Walk. Participants who contribute to the soliloquies will receive a custom zine. RSVP HERE
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2PM - 5PM AT NEWTOWN BARGE PLAYGROUND
“WHO DOES THIS PLACE BELONG TO?”
On Monday, September 18th from 2pm to 5pm, the community is invited to Newtown Barge Playground, to meet with artist, Ray Jordan Achan to answer the question "Who Does This Place Belong To". Participants will be provided with materials to write, and have the option to contribute gestures. All materials will be repurposed for a performance on the final day of Climate Week on September 24th at 6pm at the Newtown Creek Nature Walk. Participants who contribute to the soliloquies will receive a custom zine. RSVP HERE
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2PM - 5PM AT THE NEWTOWN CREEK NATURE WALK
"THE HISTORY WE CARRY"
On Tuesday, September 19th from 2pm to 5pm, the community is invited to the Newtown Creek Nature Walk at 99 Paidge Avenue to meet with artist, Ray Jordan Achan to respond to "The History We Carry". Participants will be provided with materials to write, and have the option to contribute gestures. All materials will be repurposed for a performance on the final day of Climate Week on September 24th at 6pm at the Newtown Creek Nature Walk. Participants who contribute to the soliloquies will receive a custom zine. RSVP HERE
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2PM - 4PM AT THE MANHATTAN AVENUE STREET END
"THE FUTURE, TOMORROW"
On Wednesday, September 20th from 2pm to 4pm, the community is invited to the Manhattan Avenue Street End located at 1201 Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint to meet with artist, Ray Jordan Achan to respond to "The Future, Tomorrow". Participants will be provided with materials to write, and have the option to contribute gestures. All materials will be repurposed for a performance on the final day of Climate Week on September 24th at 6pm at the Newtown Creek Nature Walk. Participants who contribute to the soliloquies will receive a custom zine. RSVP HERE
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 3PM - 6PM AT THE NEWTOWN CREEK NATURE WALK
"WHERE DO I BELONG?"
On Thursday, September 21st from 3pm to 6pm, the community is invited to the Newtown Creek Nature Walk located at 99 Paidge Ave in Greenpoint to meet with artist, Ray Jordan Achan to respond to the question, "Where Do I Belong?" Participants will be provided with materials to write, and have the option to contribute gestures. All materials will be repurposed for a performance on the final day of Climate Week on September 24th at 6pm at the Newtown Creek Nature Walk. Participants who contribute to the soliloquies will receive a custom zine. RSVP HERE
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 8AM - 11AM AT UNDER THE ‘K’ BRIDGE PARK (RAIN DATE DUE TO TROPICAL STORM IRENE)
“TRANQUIL MOMENTS”
On Friday, September 22nd from 8am to 11am, the community is invited to Under the 'K' Bridge Park to meet with artist, Ray Jordan Achan to respond to the idea of, "Tranquil Moments" by the Creek. Participants will be provided with materials to write, and have the option to contribute gestures. All materials will be repurposed for a performance on the final day of Climate Week on September 24th at 6pm at the Newtown Creek Nature Walk. Participants who contribute to the soliloquies will receive a custom zine. RSVP HERE
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 8AM - 11AM AT THE MANHATTAN AVENUE STREET END (RAIN DATE DUE TO TROPICAL STORM IRENE)
“RESTORATIVE HEALING”
On Saturday, September 23rd from 8am to 11am, the community is invited to the Manhattan Avenue Street End located at 1201 Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint to meet with artist, Ray Jordan Achan to respond to the prompt of "Restorative Healing." Participants will be provided with materials to write, and have the option to contribute gestures. All materials will be repurposed for a performance on the final day of Climate Week on September 24th at 6pm at the Newtown Creek Nature Walk. Participants who contribute to the soliloquies will receive a custom zine. RSVP HERE
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 6PM - 8PM AT THE NEWTOWN CREEK NATURE WALK (FINAL PRESENTATION/COMMUNITY GATHERING; RAIN DATE DUE TO TROPICAL STORM IRENE)
On Sunday, September 24th from 6pm to 8pm, the community is invited to the Newtown Creek Nature Walk located at 99 Paidge Ave in Greenpoint for a performance of soliloquies collated throughout the week at variety locations of Newtown Creek. Audience members will receive a zine and have the opportunity to contribute to its final form. RSVP HERE
ABOUT CLIMATE WEEK
Climate Week NYC is the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together some 400 events and activities across the City of New York – in person, hybrid and online. Each year, business leaders, political change makers, local decision takers and civil society representatives of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the world, gather to drive the transition, speed up progress, and champion change that is already happening.
Climate Week NYC is hosted by Climate Group, an international non-profit whose purpose is to drive climate action, fast. Climate Group hosts the official program during the week that brings together the most senior international figures from business, government, civil society and the climate sector.
This year Climate Week NYC will be held from September 17-24, 2023. The event takes place every year in partnership with the United Nations General Assembly and is run in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York.
The theme is We Can. We Will
The theme reflects determination, focus, but also a hopeful promise, and a call to action to do it together. It touches upon the action we need to take now, but also the need to look ahead and explore new opportunities.
We've seen some promising wins when it comes to renewables and financing, but we can’t rest on our laurels. We're entering a new phase where we need to look at what comes next: tripling clean investments, finding new solutions, taking concrete action, exploring new opportunities and solutions, and breaking down barriers together.
We expect this year’s Climate Week NYC to be even bigger than 2022, which was the most impactful, ambitious, and far-reaching one to date. Business leaders, political change makers, local decision takers and civil society representatives are set to use the week as a rallying call for the meaningful contributions still needed to halve carbon emissions by 2030 and to be on a path to net-zero by 2050.
