This class will allow participants to take part in building a fetish of grief; the exercise will allow us to either extend or exorcize our grief into a communally built object. In this interdisciplinary class, we will use textiles, write poems, play games, and learn about each other’s histories.

This class takes inspiration from practises such as Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed, Gestalt, and Internal Family Systems therapy which ask participants not only to linger in heavy feelings, but also immerse themselves in an attitude of play throughout.

For individuals with trauma, and particularly for those who have been products of generational trauma due to imperialism, being allowed to bring our affective realities into the world is not just a sentimental endeavor. It creates the opportunity for others to witness our historicity and the violence that has been baked into our bodies. Trauma is often indescribable; its true effects can never be revealed, but through this practice we can try to share our histories. As artists, we are not just building out of an invisible, individual self. This class will allow us to join each others’ subjectivities and build a tangible product out of our affective worlds.

Content advisory: This class is not facilitated by a certified mental health professional. Please be prepared to care for yourself through this work.

This class will be held in person at Abrons Arts Center with a remote option.