verdigris ensemble and dallas contemporary are pleased to announce their partnership for the 2023 verdigris ensemble fall season, which will include two productions presented at dallas contemporary dedicated to themes of ecological justice and the environment: ‘the endangered,’ from october 27-29, and ‘beautification,’ from december 1-3.
‘beautification’ | friday, december 1 to sunday, december 3, 2023 | 7:30 pm
verdigris ensemble unites with the dallas contemporary for this co-commission, bringing a memorable collaboration inspired by the museum’s site-specific fall exhibition with visual artist bianca bondi. taking cues from ladybird johnson’s highway beautification act, which aimed to protect native plants from billboards along stretches of texas highway, bondi presents a monumental artificial landscape representing the struggle between the natural and commercial world. using the exhibition as inspiration, verdigris ensemble is commissioning 8-10 women composers to weave together a narrative about lady bird johnson’s efforts, comparing her actions to the resilient native flowers of texas. the production will feature innovative light projections that mimic the experience of highway driving and archive audio of ladybird’s speeches.
limited capacity.
verdigris ensemble is a choral ensemble that commissions works and incorporates various genres to tell compelling stories, aiming to transform our world through the alchemy of stories and the power of the human voice, with a strong reliance on technological innovations. the ensemble, under artistic director sam brukhman, sites concerts in cultural locations throughout the city of dallas, working to connect different artistic disciplines and modes of presentation through collaborative productions that amplify the creative diversity of the region.
dallas contemporary is a non-collecting, kunsthalle museum with the privilege of presenting the vanguard of contemporary artistic practice through exhibitions, public programs, and performances. the museum believes that the display of art objects, discourse, and community activity work together to advance our understanding of the art of this moment. by virtue of its flexible nature, like verdigris ensemble, dallas contemporary is uniquely positioned to map dallas as a locus of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in the arts.
this fall season, verdigris ensemble’s two productions at dallas contemporary will focus on the perils facing the environment and the justice movements working to protect it.
image: bianca bondi, exhibition views: vanilla oxide, 2022, cap saint fons, lyon, france, mixed media, scent created by yann vasnier (givaudan), courtesy of the artist and mor charpentier. photographer: david desaleux