I’ve been on the road for a few days with the TouchUpdate team preparing for our show premiere at New York Live Arts.  This past week has been fantastic with our two showings at DancePlace in D.C. Their communications coordinator Amanda even made a video for Instagram TV.

The project has come a long way from when I first worked on the Projection Mapping Masks in 2015.  When I get a chance, I’ll be writing about the creation of the masks and video sculpture.  Until then, here’s a brief of the show.

Bill Shannon premieres Touch Update, a new work exploring contemporary modes of digital versus interpersonal representation and physicality. Shannon combines movement, wearable projection technology, and video installation to explore the social constructions that surround disabled bodies. His Touch Update features collaborators and performers Ron Chunn, Teena Marie Custer, Raphael Botelho Nepomuceno, Jacquea Mae, David Whitewolf, Cornelius Henke III, Anna Thompson, and Taylor Knight.

If you’re in NYC come to the show. Here’s the info.

New York Live Arts, 219 W 19th St. New York NY 10011 (between 7th and 8th Ave)

Closest to the 1/2/3, A/C/E and L

Tickets: Start at $15

Wednesday, November 14 at 7:30pm

Thursday, November 15 at 7:30pm

Friday, November 16 at 7:30pm

Saturday, November 17 at 7:30 pm

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Come see the show in DC or NYC. #Repost @whatiswhatdotcom (@get_repost) ・・・ #touchupdate Rehearsal Run recorded @paintedbrideartcenter The show is headed next to @danceplacedc for two shows November 10th and 11th. Rehearsal performances here by @rapha_nepomuceno on crutches wearing facial performance for video mask by Ron Chunn and @slowdanger__ wearing facial performance for video mask by @teemarievft Video Editing /Mapping & RPi Programming @projectileobjects Mask concept and fabrication, script, production design @whatiswhatdotcom sound design @slowdanger__ The Pittsburgh shooter said “screw your optics, I’m going in” This piece was created in part as a response to those optics of suffering and the ongoing decline of the state of the world on a myriad of levels. Over my lifetime I have repeatedly turned to dance and music to heal, to escape and to transcend. If you miss DC please check us in NYC @nylivearts November 14th - 17th . . . . . . . . . #antihate #antifascist #billshannon #videoart #wearables #videoartist #interdisciplinaryart #interdisciplinaryartist #performanceart #dance #disability #ProjectileObjects

A post shared by Cornelius (@projectileobjects) on Oct 30, 2018 at 7:41pm PDT

This performance of Bill Shannon is made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Bill Shannon’s Touch Update is a National Performance Network / Visual Artists Network (NPN / VAN) Creation and Development Fund Project co-commissioned by Kelly Strayhorn Theater in partnership with Painted Bride Art Center, Dance Place, and NPN. For more information: npnweb.org.