Rhetorical Galleries and [nueBox] have come together to provide the community, emerging artists and established local dance artists with an innovative opportunity. These Phoenix arts organizations will present the Sizzle Series, an evening of exciting dance and performance art this Friday, July 15 inside the memorable Phoenix Institute of Contemporary Art (phICA) shipping containers located at 408 E. Roosevelt.
phiCA shipping container. Courtesy of Rhetorical Galleries and [nuebox].
On Friday night these three alternative spaces will be activated by an array of diverse movement performances. Patrons of the gallery scene in downtown Phoenix, dance lovers and those exploring July’s Third Friday art walk can experience these individual works free of charge.
Rhetorical Galleries founder Nic Wiesinger, a graduate of ASU with his MFA in Intermedia Arts, has been an artist in the valley since 2008. He created this organization in 2015 with the majority of the works existing as pop-up galleries within the phICA containers. “Mostly I want to help artists as much as possible by creating opportunities to show and create in ways that are different, unique, and really stretch the way the artist thinks about space, audience, and community,” Wiesinger said, referring to his practice in community development and artist partnership.
A recipient of the Contemporary Forum arts grant and an avid community developer, Wiesinger also started The Arts Beacon website and is currently working to curate a show at ASU’s Harry Wood Gallery in August.
The gallery’s partner in this event, [nueBox], is another relatively new, but impressive arts organization that stemmed from a desire to broaden the kinds of works performed and elevate the level of support for arts in the valley. Co-founders Julie Akerly and Matthew Mosher wanted to enhance the Phoenix art community’s performance and installation fields. While colleagues moved away from Phoenix and Arizona in general, Mosher and Akerly both made their choice to stay and cultivate a space for emerging artist to develop interdisciplinary work.
Sizzle Series artists. Courtesy of Rhetorical Galleries and [nuebox].
Though [nueBox] is moving to Mesa Arts Center due to their growth, they are responsible for creating 19 new works through their partnership with Phoenix Center for the Arts. Their legacy within downtown phoenix and through the Sizzle Series is a continued innovative piece of the city’s blossoming performance and movement arts scene.
Artists that will be showcased during this Friday’s Sizzle Series event are Liliana Gomez, Carley Conder, Gina Jurek, All Bodies Dance Collective, Felix Cruz, Jordan Daniels, Jasmine Nunn, Jessica Rajko, Jenny Gerena, Katharine Leigh Simpson, Michaela Konzal, and Howl Theatre.
If You Go
What: Sizzle Series Dance and Performance Art Event
When: Friday, July 15 from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Where: phICA shipping containers, 408 E. Roosevelt.
Cost: Free
