February 2020 Meet Our Artists: Reenah Golden

Our Members, Fiscally Sponsored Artists, and other program participants represent a wide range of career stages and disciplines. We love them - and, as fellow artists, we're always inspired by them. With this monthly feature, we hope you'll feel the same way!

Name, Pronouns: Reenah Golden, she/her/hers

What do you do?
I am Founder and Managing Artistic Director of an intimate urban space where we produce collaborative works and traditional plays with a special focus on the stories and interests of BIPOC, urban youth, LGBTQ+ and non-binary folk, and other marginalized voices and art forms.

What inspires you?
Others like me hell-bent on elevating voices from the margins, art for social justice, disrupting disrespectful narratives against POC, reclaiming our narratives, introducing young hearts to the light.

Photo Descriptions: 1. Youth improv participant for Interactive Storytime. 2. Teen actor rehearses with Equity actor Angela Polite. 3. Teen Fellows celebrate two years with The Avenue. 4. Youth Fellow beautifying sidewalks with safe space message.  Photos by The Avenue community members.

What are you proud of? 

Raising my child as a single mom (even while married) to become an empowered, boundary- pushing artist in their own right. Remaining self-employed in the arts through it all and not losing my house (came close). Providing a safe, bold, creative space for youth and emerging artists who have not yet found their tribe to grow, create, and just be.

What are your goals? 

To use the power of art and storytelling to transform a very deserving but underserved art desert in Rochester by providing access to performing arts and other community-centered events for us, by us.

Do you have any advice for your fellow artists? 

Keep allowing your passion to direct your path; sacrificing it will not get you farther ahead in the long run, and this path will ultimately lead you to magic!

How does The Field help you? 

I came here for a more specialized approach to fiscal sponsorship that would not interfere with my ability to raise money locally or nationally, the Field has not disappointed. They really know what they are doing and their advice is invaluable.

Photo Descriptions: 1. Black AF Emerging Artist Showcase. 2. Black Women and Femme Artist Panel on Kujichagulia-Self Determination. 3. Community Reader Anderson Allen Improv Participation for Storytime. Photos by The Avenue community members.

©2020 Reenah Golden / Avenue Children's Theatre Project (A.C.T.) @ The Avenue Blackbox Theatre

December 2019 Meet Our Artists: Alicia Foxworth

Our Members, Fiscally Sponsored Artists, and other program participants represent a wide range of career stages and disciplines. We love them - and, as fellow artists, we're always inspired by them. With this monthly feature, we hope you'll feel the same way!

Name, Pronouns:  Alicia Foxworth, she/her/hers

What are you proud of?  I am very grateful for the gift of networking and community. As an artist, I overcome most hurdles through shared resources and in-kind services or donations.

What inspires you?  I love to explore different world cultures and explore where our experiences find common ground and our common humanity.

Pictured: Various productions of Ghost Writer: An Abolitionist’s Tale, written by Alicia Foxworth. Photos by Steven K. Foxworth.

What are your goals?  My goals are to present my original works and to also provide a regular festival for up and coming writers to showcase their work.

Do you have any advice for your fellow artists?  Be brave and do not let anyone tell you that you can't do it and most importantly, have fun!

How does The Field help you?  As a member, I have access to counsel, industry information, and affordable services and materials due to my affiliation with a not-for-profit arts organization. Also, the fiscal sponsorship program allows me to accept donations from supporters of my work. It's an invaluable resource.

All content ©Alicia Foxworth/Brownstone Steps Entertainment
 

Additional Viewing:
Salary negotiation from Ghost Writer, scene 2

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November 2018 Meet Our Artists: Candice Segarra

Our Members, Fiscally Sponsored Artists, and other program participants represent a wide range of career stages and disciplines. We love them - and, as fellow artists, we're always inspired by them. With this monthly feature, we hope you'll feel the same way!

 Name: Candice Segarra

What do you do?
Choreographer, Poet, Director of Segarra Dance Theatre Projects

What are you proud of?
I am proud of being able to evolve my work from where I began years ago as a choreographer. I am definitely not the same person or artist I was back then when I first started. I am much freer in terms of dance-making and more out of my head. I am proud of getting my dance collective into major dance festivals and showcases that I never thought my work would qualify for, sometimes I can be my own worst critic. I'm proud of being able to afford rehearsal space so far in my choreographic career although it has been super challenging and my wallet is falling short now; the more my company's opportunities grow. It's fascinating to see your hard work cultivate into something bigger than yourself! I'm also super proud of my dancers and other artists who collaborate with me and give me their time and energy to grow our company.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by hard-working fellow artists of any kind that make a living creating and inspiring others. I love colors and the complexity of human emotions and thoughts; they really intrigue me. My environment and nature inspires the way I think and create and human relationships inspire me to write. My work is based on these concepts as well as how society's treatment of certain classes and races- these really ignite the ideas in my mind and transform them into my artwork.

What are your goals?
I have so many goals! For my company, I aspire to take my company in a tour nationally and maybe even perform internationally if possible. I also hope to have our own full-length evening show where we showcase our repertoire at a NYC venue within the next year!

Do you have any advice for your fellow artists?
I wish someone had told me how hard it was going to be to be a professional dancer and a professional choreographer growing your own company in these times. It's hard! But if art – whether it’s music, dance, theatre, or visual – is what you truly love to do, it is totally worth it to be at times, broke, hungry, exhausted and stressed out. We only got one life, so we have to do what we absolutely love to do.

How does The Field help you?
Since I'm new to The Field, I am excited to see what we can do together. I am very much looking forward to receiving help with fundraising and grantwriting and to see how much my collective will grow under the sponsorship of The Field.

Click to enlarge images.

All content © Candice Segarra / Segarra Dance Theatre Projects

Additional Viewing:

SDTP at the Sans Limites Movement Fest (WE THE ARTISTS Excerpt A)

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