High Concept Labs

🎉 HCL is also excited to announce the 2024 Fellow Artists in Residence! 🎉

Please give a warm welcome to Helen Lee (), Allen Moore (), Sofía Gabriel del Callejo (), Regina Martinez ( ), and Rigo Saura ()!!

The Fellow Artists in Residence (FAR) program invites alumni of our Artist in Residence program to continue working in their disciplines at HCL for a second full year to further their projects and deepen their practice.

Read the full press release of our 2024 cohort here: https://buff.ly/3NzxK5Z and keep following them on their artistic journey into the new year!

#2024 -visual

🎉 High Concept Labs is excited to announce the cohort of 2024 Artists in Residence! 🎉

Welcome Bradford Chin (), Carissa Lee (),
KT Shivak (), Christopher Knowlton (), and Haruhi Kobayashi ()!!

The Artist in Residence (AIR) program is HCL’s flagship, 12-month residency that supports artists to develop time-based work. Artists receive a stipend, no-cost studio space, and professional photo and video documentation, along with tailored curatorial, development, and marketing support. The AIR program is juried by a panel of Artistic Advisory Council members, which includes arts practitioners, critics, writers, and thinkers, including many HCL alumni.

Read the full announcement here: https://buff.ly/3NzxK5Z
And keep following us as we highlight our incoming residents throughout the next few weeks!

#2024

High Concept Labs Announces 2024 Resident Artists — HIGH CONCEPT LABS High Concept Labs (HCL) announces the 2024 Artists in Residence: Bradford Chin, Christopher Knowlton, Haruhi Kobayashi, Carissa Lee, and KT Shivak.

‼️ Reminding you to RSVP at link in bio for this Sunday's Open Lab: "Curiosities of Wellness in Bodies of Grief and Joy" by AIR Helen Lee () and featuring additional performance and music from artists: Tuli Bera, Kara Brody, Anjal Chande, Amanda Gentry, Dabin Han, Catherine Hepler, Kiku Hibino, Anna Hu, Robin Kim, Isabella Limosnero, Amanda Maraist, Hannah Marcus, Jill McDufee Wade, Wannapa P-Eubanks, Peregrine, Cristal Sabbagh, & Sharon Udoh.

From Earth to Sky, Sky to Earth
A loving invitation to expand grief into joy

Explore collective healing to shift into ease, groundedness, and joy. Curiosities of Wellness in Bodies of Grief and Joy brings together offerings of performances, live music, movement therapy, plant medicine and celebration.

Doors at 4:30pm
Performance at 5:00
Estimated Duration: 2 hours

5-6pm 4th floor Earth: groundedness, care, sitting with grief
6-7pm 5th floor Sky: elevate, celebration, joy
RSVP here: https://buff.ly/3RtWezK

Supported by High Concept Labs and the Monira Foundation in Joint Residency at Mana Contemporary

Chicago Adavu Meetup is a community for bharatanatyam dancers in Chicago to practice their technique and learn from each other. At least 1-2 years experience with bharatanatyam is recommended.

We will run through bharatanatyam adavus and learn a short choreography together. Participants include bharatanatyam dancers of all levels—whether you’re a professional dancer or looking to get back into bharatanatyam after a long break, there’s a place for you here. Co-Hosted by FAR Kinnari Vora.

Saturday, December 16, 2023
2:00 - 4:00 PM
High Concept Labs

HIGH CONCEPT LABS Embracing experimentation and discovery through accessible artist residencies. High Concept Labs (HCL) strengthens the creative sector by providing accessible residency programs for artists across disciplines interested in experimentation, discovery, exchange, and risk. Through these residencies, HC...

Help create the arts ecosystem that Chicago needs & deserves!

Last week, we shared a letter from our Co-Directors encouraging donations to support our 2024 Open Labs. This series of work-in-progress showings invites audiences to witness the creative process and then reflect on the experience through moderated conversations with the performers.

The full cost to present an Open Lab costs is $2000. This includes:
Professional documentation;
Production and technical support;
Staffing, insurance, and venue costs;
Access tools, such as ASL interpretation and captioning; and
Direct funding for artists to bring their projects to the public.

So far, our community has stepped up to donate $1275!

No level of support is too small. $5, $10, and $25 gifts provide us a strong foundation. For those that are able, please consider supporting at a higher level:

$5,000 - 2024 Open Labs Sustaining Donor
$2,000 - Lead Presenter for one 2024 Open Lab
$1,000 - Sponsor a Lab E Work-in-Progress Performance
$500 - Sponsor Videography for one 2024 Open Lab

No level of support is too small. $5, $10, and $25 gifts provide a strong foundation for our work, while larger gifts allow us to envision the future and achieve bigger aspirations.

Help support artists by donating to our End of Year Campaign!
Give here: https://buff.ly/47VydHU

🔊 Join us on Thursday, December 7! Here's a sneak peak into the production of the projection/shadow rehearsal with elior, Sophie Lipman, and Lori Mendoza for 'holding stones,' a culminating gathering in celebration of Regina Martinez's High Concept Labs artist residency!

🪨 'holding stones' is a love story expressed in sound. Regina ( ) will be joined by guest percussionist Daniel Villarreal () inside a visual atmosphere woven together with painter, elior ( ), and floral artist Lori Mendoza (). Welcome set by DJ Nina Nite (). 🪨

🎟️ RSVP: https://buff.ly/41cQcqO

Image credit: courtesy of the artist
flyer designed by Aly Camacho ()

Presented by High Concept Labs and the Monira Foundation in Joint Residency at Mana Contemporary.

Score awesome deals at this week's HCL Storage Sale! We've got audio gear, TVs, furniture, and office essentials up for sale. Best part? Your purchase supports HCL, a non-profit backing performance art and artists.

🏷️ Swing by for budget-friendly finds that give back to the creative community!

Curious what’s available, but can’t make it to HCL this Friday? Following this flash sale, we’ll inventory all remaining items. Please email us ([email protected]) if you’d like to learn more.

Produced by High Concept Labs and the Monira Foundation in Joint Residency at Mana Contemporary.

From Earth to Sky, Sky to Earth
🌏 A loving invitation to expand grief into joy ☁️

Explore collective healing to shift into ease, groundedness, and joy. "Curiosities of Wellness in Bodies of Grief and Joy" presented by Artist in Residence Helen Lee () brings together offerings of performances, live music, movement therapy, plant medicine and celebration.

Artists include: Tuli Bera, Kara Brody, Amanda Gentry, Dabin Han, Catherine Hepler, Kiku Hibino, Anna Hu, Robin Kim, Isabella Limosnero, Amanda Maraist, Hannah Marcus, Jill McDufee Wade, Olula Negre, Wannapa P-Eubanks, Peregrine, Cristal Sabbagh, Darling Squire, Clara Takarabe, Sharon Udoh.

Doors at 4:30pm
Performance at 5:00pm
Estimated Duration: 2 hours
RSVP: https://buff.ly/3RtWezK

5:00-6:00pm 4th floor Earth: groundedness, care, sitting with grief
6:00-7:00pm 5th floor Sky: elevate, celebration, joy

Presented by High Concept Labs and the Monira Foundation () in Joint Residency at Mana Contemporary.

Curiosities of Wellness in Bodies of Grief and Joy — HIGH CONCEPT LABS From Earth to Sky, Sky to Earth A loving invitation to expand grief into joy Explore collective healing to shift into ease, groundedness, and joy. Curiosities of Wellness in Bodies of Grief and Joy brings together offerings of performances, live music, movement therapy, plant medicine and celebrati

🔊 Our next Soft Noise Skillshare () is just a week away! 🔊

Soft Noise Skillshare I Series #4
Intro to Deep Listening
with Veronica Anne Salinas (._.anne)
Curated by Meredith Haines ()
Sunday, December 10, 5:30-7:30pm
High Concept Labs ()
Registration: https://buff.ly/484PG0h

Get an Introduction to the practice of Deep Listening to decompress before the holidays!

In this two-hour Deep Listening workshop, we will use our ears, voice, bodies, and dreams to explore the practice of Deep Listening. Deep Listening is a creative and meditative practice developed by composer Pauline Oliveros that nurtures a deeper understanding of sound within the listening body. In this session, we'll tune our ears with collective listening meditations, run through exercises for collective improvisation, then move on to listen to the body with a series of light movement prompts, then close with a serene dream meditation for the group.

This workshop aims to expand the boundaries of traditional listening and will hopefully leave you feeling rejuvenated and inspired to embrace a heightened connection to the world of listening and soundmaking. No prior experience with sound or music is necessary!

Please bring a yoga mat if you have one and some water! HCL will have floor cushions available for everyone. If you feel you may need accommodations or accessibility assistance please contact Veronica ([email protected]).

Veronica Anne Salinas is a sound artist, educator, and Deep Listener. She collaborates with the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology to nurture the growth of listening as social practice. Her passion for Deep Listening emerged during her time working with mentor David Dove and Nameless Sound (formerly the Pauline Oliveros Foundation Houston) in Texas. She has studied at the Center for Deep Listening at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and holds an MFA in Sound from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Presented by High Concept Labs and the Monira Foundation in Joint Residency at Mana Contemporary.

‼️ TODAY IS THE DAY‼️
We are so excited to see you at FUSION at Experimental Station ()! A one-day celebration of new works by the 2023 Fellow Artists in Residence.

2023 Featured Artists Schedule:
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Kinnari Vora ()
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Maggie Bridger ()
3:30 - 4:00 p.m. Corey Smith ()
4:30 - 5:00 p.m. Shalaka Kulkarni ()
5:30 - 6:00 p.m. Juliann Wang (.jw)
6:30 - 7:00 p.m. Meredith Haines ()
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Artist Reception and FUSION celebration!

There are still a few tickets left:https://buff.ly/3G4Syya or purchase yours at the door!
See you at FUSION!

‼️ FUSION is officially 3 days away! We'd love to see you there!

We are so excited to partner with Experimental Station () to bring you new work by the Fellow Artists in Residence.

2023 HCL Fellow Artists in Residence:
Kinnari Vora ()
Maggie Bridger ()
Corey Smith ()
Shalaka Kulkarni ()
Juliann Wang (.jw)
Meredith Haines ()

Each Fellow Artist has selected one piece to present that has formed throughout their two year residency with High Concept Labs. The energy, ideas, concepts, feelings, thoughts, and processes of each of the six featured artists have coalesced and fused into the new works being presented across a full day of festivities at Experimental Station.

Be sure to stay for the artist reception featuring complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres with HCL staff and celebrate the send off of the 2023 cohort of Fellow Artist in Residence!

🎟️ There are still a few tickets left! Reserve yours today: https://buff.ly/3G4Syya 🎟️

Supported by High Concept Labs, the Monira Foundation (), and Experimental Station (), where HCL is in residence.

Open Lab: Regina Martinez "holding stones"

🪨 "holding stones" is a love story expressed in sound. Regina ( ) will be joined by guest percussionist Daniel Villarreal () inside a visual atmosphere woven together with painter, elior, and floral artist Lori Mendoza (). Welcome set by DJ Nina Nite ().

🎉 Join us December 7th for this culminating gathering in celebration of Regina’s High Concept Labs artist residency. Reserve your spot here: https://buff.ly/3G4Syya

flyer designed by Aly Camacho
()

Presented by High Concept Labs and the Monira Foundation () in Joint Residency at Mana Contemporary ().

⭐ FUSION is almost here! 🎟️ Tickets are going fast so reserve yours now! https://buff.ly/3G4Syya

Performance schedule:
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Kinnari Vora "Antarabhava" Death Cafe in collaboration with the Ishti Collective and Mat Binder
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Maggie Bridger "Lab E" Convening of Chicago's Disabled Artists with facilitators Maggie Bridger, Andy Slater, and Reveca Torres *Masks required*
3:30 - 4:00 p.m. Corey Smith "ALMOST NOTHING" a new performance
4:30 - 5:00 p.m. Shalaka Kulkarni "Converskath"
6:30 - 7:00 p.m. Meredith Haines "My Body is My Sickness" in collaboration with Liv Mershon
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Artist Reception 🥂
Enjoy complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres with HCL staff and resident artists.

High Concept Labs, in partnership with Experimental Station (), presents new works by the 2023 HCL Fellow Artists in Residence. The energy, ideas, concepts, feelings, thoughts, and processes of each of the six featured artists have coalesced and fused into the new works being presented across a full day of festivities at Experimental Station.
Come and see the results of this FUSION! ⚡

FUSION is supported by High Concept Labs, the Monira Foundation (), and Experimental Station (), where HCL is in residence.

photo credits:
Kinnari Vora by Michelle Reid
Shalaka Kulkarni by Sharvari Kulkarni
Meredith Haines by Leah Wendzinski

🎁 This GivingTuesday, show your support for artists! High Concept Labs is committed to nurturing all of the stages of artists’ work. We also know that artists benefit from having supportive platforms to present their work at various stages in their process. Through this work, we have learned that artists need a platform to share developing projects, test ideas, and gain perspective on their work through conversation. This is how Open Labs supports HCL’s artists.

These free work-in-progress showings invite audiences to witness the creative process and then reflect on the experience through moderated conversations with the performers. These events foster rare and important community exchange between makers and audiences. We believe that this type of dialog is essential for artists to find the resources and community investment required to be cultural leaders and visionaries.

We invite you all to help us lay a strong foundation for our 2024 Open Lab series with a gift of any size. Together, we can create the arts ecosystem that Chicago needs and deserves!

So, how can you support Open Labs? Pledge a gift today! https://buff.ly/3T7oNUS

‼️ FUSION IS OFFICIALLY ONE WEEK AWAY ‼️

High Concept Labs, in partnership with Experimental Station, presents FUSION, a celebration of new work by the 2023 HCL Fellow Artists in Residence. The energy, ideas, concepts, feelings, thoughts, and processes of each of the six featured artists have coalesced and fused into the new works being presented across a full day of festivities at Experimental Station.

FEATURED ARTISTS:
Maggie Bridger ()
Meredith Haines ()
Shalaka Kulkarni ()
Corey Smith ()
Kinnari Vora ()
Juliann Wang (.jw)

Come and see the results of this FUSION!

🎟️ Reserve tickets here: https://buff.ly/3G4Syya

Supported by High Concept Labs, the Monira Foundation (), and Experimental Station (), where HCL is in residence.

⚡ FUSION ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: SHALAKA KULKARNI ()
Conversakath is an introspective exploration of the intimate conversation between an artist and her departed teacher. This work delves into the profound themes of aging, relationships, and transitions, showcasing the enduring bond between the two different generations and perspectives. Conversakath shares the essence of this relationship through the shared love for the dance form of Kathak. Shalaka will be sharing an excerpt of Conversakath as a way to cherish the memories and wisdom passed down from generation to generation.

Reserve tickets here: https://buff.ly/3G4Syya

photo credit: Sharvari Kulkarni

FUSION is supported by High Concept Labs, the Monira Foundation, and Experimental Station, where HCL is in residence.

⚡ FUSION ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: MEREDITH HAINES (), presents My Body is My Sickness. My Body is My Sickness is a collaborative performance between Meredith Haines and Liv Mershon. Liv, a member of the experimental music project “nunn”, will be translating Meredith's movement into sound. Through this process, this piece explores how language perpetuates STI stigma in the media and daily life.

Come out to Experimental Station () on 12.3.23 to see more! Reserve tickets here: https://buff.ly/3G4Syya

photo credit: Leah Wendzinski

FUSION is supported by High Concept Labs, the Monira Foundation, and Experimental Station, where HCL is in residence.

⚡ FUSION ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: COREY SMITH () will present ALMOST NOTHING, a new performance.

Roger Margerum’s Ingram House sticks out. It stands sleek, boxy, and modernist at the end of a block of classic Chicago two-flats. ALMOST NOTHING is a new performance by Corey Smith that looks to the Ingram House as a site of exploration and inquiry. Featuring original music, lights, and dance, ALMOST NOTHING takes place inside the footprint of the Ingram House, replicated inside the Experimental Station.

Reserve your tickets today!: https://buff.ly/3G4Syya

Supported by High Concept Labs, the Monira Foundation, and Experimental Station, where HCL is in residence.

⚡ FUSION ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: MAGGIE BRIDGERS () will present the final Lab E of the year, a Convening of Chicago's Disabled Artists.

This convening will invite Chicago’s disabled artists to reflect on the pilot year of “Lab E” and think together about what is most needed to continue building Chicago’s disability art community and what platform can best support Chicago’s disabled artists. The convening will be facilitated by Maggie Bridger, Andy Slater, and Reveca Torres and is open to Deaf, disabled, sick, neurodivergent, and Mad artists (including those working through their relationship to these categories) working in all mediums. Masks are required for this event.

Reserve tickets here: https://buff.ly/3G4Syya

Supported by High Concept Labs, the Monira Foundation, and Experimental Station, where HCL is in residence.

⏰ Mark your calendars for FUSION on 12.3.23! High Concept Labs, in partnership with Experimental Station (), presents FUSION, a one-day celebration of new works by the 2023 Fellow Artists in Residence. Each featured artist will present one work that has formed throughout their two-year residency with High Concept Labs.

⚡ FUSION ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: KINNARI VORA () will present a new work "Antarabhava," a Death Cafe.
Antarabhava is a meditation on impermanence and mortality. Kinnari Vora, in collaboration with the Ishti Collective invites you to a collective space to tend to your grief: pause, reflect, and nourish. As a part of their ongoing work Antarabhava, they host a death cafe facilitated by Matt Binder. A death cafe is a space where individuals, often strangers, engage in discussions about death with the aim ‘to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.' Participants are invited to engage as they feel comfortable.

You won't want to miss this! Reserve your seats today: https://buff.ly/3G4Syya !

photo credit: Michelle Reid



Supported by High Concept Labs, the Monira Foundation, and Experimental Station, where HCL is in residence.

🎉 We are so excited to welcome Aquil Charlton as our new Artistic Director!

Aquil is a creative and visionary leader who leverages his experience as a teaching artist, consultant, and co-founder of artist collaboratives to make positive contributions in Chicago communities and the arts sector.

He joins HCL Managing Director Angee Lennard in a co-leadership position with the organization. Interim Artistic Director Rika Lin will transition her role to Aquil and return to serving on both our Board of Directors and on the Artistic Advisory Council.

“High Concept Labs is a soft and mindful landing place at the intersections of so many artists' careers, and my goal is to be a great steward of this vital service to the arts ecosystem in Chicago,” says Aquil. “I get to do this alongside an amazing team and I look forward to together welcoming a new group of residents for 2024 and supporting a thriving community of fellows, alumni, and partners. As a South Side Chicago resident, I am excited to strengthen our partnership with Experimental Station and facilitate connections with the rich networks of artists and spaces on the South and West Side.”

Read the full press release here: https://buff.ly/3SNRXbB

⏰ DECEMBER 3! SAVE THE DATE!

High Concept Labs, in partnership with Experimental Station (), presents FUSION, a one-day celebration of new works by the 2023 Fellow Artists in Residence. Each featured artist will present one work that has formed throughout their two-year residency with High Concept Labs.

2023 Featured Artists:
Maggie Bridger ()
Meredith Haines ()
Shalaka Kulkarni ()
Corey Smith ()
Kinnari Vora ()
Juliann Wang (.jw)

The energy, ideas, concepts, feelings, thoughts, and processes of each of the six featured artists have coalesced and fused into the new works being presented across a day of performances and activations at Experimental Station.

Join us for FUSION on December 3!

Supported by High Concept Labs, the Monira Foundation, and Experimental Station, where HCL is in residence.

SAVE THE DATE! HCL is excited to announce FUSION: A Celebration of the 2023 Artists in Residence!

High Concept Labs, in partnership with Experimental Station (), will present a festival of new works by the 2023 HCL Fellow Artists in Residence. Each featured artist has selected one piece to present that has formed throughout their two year residency with High Concept Labs. The energy, ideas, concepts, feelings, thoughts, and processes of each of the six featured artists have coalesced and fused into the new works being presented across two full days of festivities at Experimental Station.

Join us and see the results of this fusion.

Supported by High Concept Labs, the Monira Foundation (), and Experimental Station(), where HCL is in residence.

This Saturday HCL will host Waveforms, a semi-annual sound and multimedia festival organized by graduate students in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's Sound Department. RSVP here: https://buff.ly/3SoT0yE

🔊 Waveforms features multimedia engagements and performances from Nikolas Metcalfe, Sara Lutkenhaus, Sam Anthem, Mauricio López F., Dan Greenwood, Terry Xu, Steph Patsula, Patrick Glennon, and Liz Flood. Join us for a unique listening experience from the Sound Department!

Waveforms — HIGH CONCEPT LABS Waveforms is a semi-annual sound and multimedia festival organized by graduate students in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Sound Department.

Join us for an online gathering of disabled artists! This gathering provides Chicago’s disability arts community a relaxed virtual space to come together. Facilitators will be present to support attendees and the conversation as needed, offering multiple ways to engage. ASL interpretation and AI captioning available. LabE is curated by artist Maggie Bridger () and is dedicated to those interested in devising training opportunities.

RSVP here: https://buff.ly/47iBHmP !

Lab E: Social Gathering (Online) — HIGH CONCEPT LABS Join us for an online gathering of disabled artists! In the lead up to our Convening of Chicago’s Disabled Artists on December 3, we are hosting a pair of social gatherings for the community. These are relaxed spaces where you are encouraged to come and go as needed and just spend some time with y

🎧 Join us from 12-2pm on Sunday, November 5 for Allen Moore’s () “The Black Arcade” Jam Session # 3!

Jam Sessions are a series of performative explorations of grieving through the sound making and visual artifacts. Building on Moore’s interest in afrofuturism and the sonic aesthetic of the black imagination, his Black Arcade sessions offer a caring and immersive soundscape that invites deep listening and creates space for personal reflection, grief, and renewal.

🔊 For Jam Session #3, Moore will experiment with how darkness, light, and color can be in conversation with sound. Guests are invited to seek comfort through stimming, moving, or finding stillness. A variety of seating options will be provided.

Moore will perform in collaboration with invited musicians. This space is open to all to listen, share love and pay tribute to loss. RSVP here: https://buff.ly/3MoYdCG

Doors at 12pm
Performance at 12:30
Estimated Duration: 90 minutes



Presented by High Concept Labs and the Monira Foundation in Joint Residency at Mana Contemporary

The Black Arcade: Grief in StereoJam Session #3 — HIGH CONCEPT LABS Allen Moore’s “The Black Arcade” Jam Sessions are a series of performative explorations of grieving through the sound making and visual artifacts. Building on Moore’s interest in afrofuturism and the sonic aesthetic of the black imagination, his Black Arcade sessions offer a caring and immer...

🍁 We are so excited for you to join us this Friday at our Fall Aperitivo! 🍁

Our Fall Aperitivo is a celebration that supports our mission to foster experimentation, risk taking, and facilitate collaboration among artists across all disciplines!

🥳 October 27, 6-9pm
Reserve your tickets today! 🎟️ (https://buff.ly/3Sb2zkL )🎟️
$25 artists, administrators, educators, students, and those working to support the arts!
$50 for general admission
(Prices include access to drinks, catering, performances, and artistic interventions!)

🪩 🎶 Music and performances from featured artists:
Ariella Granados () (Monira Foundation Artist in Residence)
Meredith Haines () (HCL Fellow Artist in Residence) & Melon Sprout
Regina Martinez (installation in partnership with Monira Foundation & ESS/HCL Artist in Residence)
Rigo Saura () (Chicago Dancemakers Forum Partner Artist in Residence)
Juliann Wang (.jw) (HCL Fellow Artist in Residence)

🥂 Food and Drinks: Aperol Spritzes, Marz Brewery (), catering by Mustard Seed Kitchen (), and Italian cookies from Ferrara Bakery ()

🎁 Silent Auction items from The Renaissance Society (), Homeroom Chicago (), Barbara & Barbara, Brittany Leeanne Williams, Angee Lennard, and Kevin and Adele Simmons!

👏 Special thanks to our host committee: Curt & Laura Perfect, Christopher Barrett Politan, Adele Simmons, JR Magsaysay Stanley!

🪩 See you Friday! 🪩

Presented by High Concept Labs and the Monira Foundation () in Joint Residency at Mana Contemporary ()

# performance