Each month, Center on Halsted's Limelight Series gives you a closer look at Chicagoland's diverse artistic community.
WHO IS ALEXA GRÆ? is an evening with multidisciplinary opera and movement-based queer performance artist ALEXA GRÆ, the inaugural participant of 2016's Chicago Queer Arts Mentorship Program (CQAMP), a financially supported Institutional Incubation Sponsored Project via High Concept Labs. The evening will share live performance of "Sur la nuit" combining French opera and electr...
Each month, Center on Halsted's Limelight Series gives you a closer look at Chicagoland's diverse artistic community.
WHO IS ALEXA GRÆ? is an evening with multidisciplinary opera and movement-based queer performance artist ALEXA GRÆ, the inaugural participant of 2016's Chicago Queer Arts Mentorship Program (CQAMP), a financially supported Institutional Incubation Sponsored Project via High Concept Labs. The evening will share live performance of "Sur la nuit" combining French opera and electronic soundscape in addition to a film preview of the|prince. Following performance ALEXA GRÆ will be joined by mentor Steve Abrams and CQAMP Program Director Joseph Varisco for a conversation with audience.
ALEXA GRÆ's work is a combination of artistic disciplines informed by specialized academic training in music composition and opera. Rigorous training as an opera student challenged them to transcend the boundaries of various art forms and to understand cultural boundaries of art in the everyday world. They bridge these chasms by focusing on how art informs identities, socialization habits, self-expression, and the ability to create, creating genre-defying performances that incorporate multiple dance styles, theatrical personas, and experimental storytelling styles.
The CHICAGO QUEER ARTS MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS (CQAMP) supports Chicago queer arts and artists by partnering emerging artists with established industry professionals through year-long mentorships focused on project or career specific goals. CQAMP fosters artistic partnerships, invests in queer cultural heritage, supports healthy professional practices.
Under the guidance of Program Director/Creator Joe Varisco (JRV MAJESTY Productions), the program aims to help mentees develop both a well-rounded understanding of the creative process and the knowledge of how to sustain one, such as budget planning and strategic funding options. Each partnership is provided with organizational support, resources, development strategies, community partnerships, venues for presenting and discussing work with the public and peers, and a partnership stipend. The aim of the partnership is not necessarily to complete the goal or project, but to elevate the professional skills and engagement of the emerging artists’ works.
By establishing a heritage that honors the distinct needs and resources of queer communities, CQAMP helps to provide a more sustainable career trajectory for emerging artists while cultivating a richer cultural discourse. Support through High Concept Labs’ Institutional Incubation Program provides CQAMP with financial support, administrative and programming assistance, as well as exhibition, performance and rehearsal space.
STEVE ABRAMS (CQAMP Mentor) has been a driving force of Chicago’s diverse cultural landscape for the past three decades with a celebrated career spanning nightclub and restaurant scenes of the 90’s through executive leadership positions at Steppenwolf Theatre and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park, Abrams currently serves as Interim Managing Director at Chicago Children’s Theatre and was recently named the first Guest Artistic Director at Navy Pier, leading newly formed arts & discovery programming. He is principal at The Abrams Group, LLC, an innovative arts management and production company and partner at TADA Theatricals, LLC, a commercial theatrical producing entity, both based in Chicago.
$10.00 suggested donation*
*Inability to pay should not act as a deterrent to attending