Sapphire Archives
WELCOME to a cosmic collision of southern opulence, ancestral map-making, and mystical world building. the Sapphire Universe shares the journey of Sapphire, a time-traveling golden goddess who moves through moments that police and celebrate the essence and experience of Black women in the United States. Told through an Afro-futuristic lens, this work journeys through the complexities of humanity canvassed through an evolving constellation of identity. Sapphire pulsates through the objectified, the dehumanized, the powerful, and the magical. She is a reflection to see you and see through you...a vessel of celestial intimacy, love, ferocity, grief, and audacity.
This project is an evolution of performance and research. What began as a budding performance inquiry, has evolved into a graphic novel series based on the Sapphire character (Sapphire Chronicles), and a dance film (Sapphire - Alien Seed, Southern Clay).
Scroll down to learn about the journey so far and what more we have in store!
Sapphire Universe
Sapphire Chronicles
Sapphire Chronicles is a series of dance-inspired tales pushing visceral, super-sonic modalities into literary realities. These short stories offer a variety of journey perspectives for Sapphire, a time traveling golden goddess moving through moments that police and celebrate the essence and experience of Black women in the United States. Told through an Afro-futuristic lens, a collection of non-linear narratives display humanity canvassed in an evolving constellation of Black feminine identity. It pulsates through the objectified, the dehumanized, the powerful, and the magical. Sapphire is a reflection to see you and see through you...a vessel of celestial intimacy, love, ferocity, grief, and audacity.
Sapphire Cosmology
Sapphire Cosmology is a gallery installation and performance, adding another layer to the Sapphire Universe.
Sapphire Dance Film
Sapphire Dance Film is a short dance film odyssey pushing visceral, super-sonic modalities into sensorial realities. This digital offering locates Sapphire outside of traditional performance spaces to consider how Sapphire and witness activate a world beyond the ephemeral.
With Gratitude
Sapphire was developed, in part, by NPN Take Notice Fund, Antenna, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC); Keshet Movers Residency; Movement Research Artist in Residence Program; Brooklyn Studios for Dance (BKSD); Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship; Dancing While Black Fellowship; Gibney Work Up program, and Actors Fund Summer Push Grant.
Special Thanks To Individual Supporters:
PERFORMANCE / Amanda G, Amy G-D, Andre D, Andreia P-C, Benedict N, Brendan D, Brianna T, Carey P, Charmaine W, Coco K, Colby B, Dan K, Davalois F, Dave R, Denise Shu, Diana G, Diego S, Edisa W, Erik B, Erin B, Erin D-D, Evelyn R, Fernando M, Greta H, Heidi D, Emana B, George E-S, Isabella P, Italy W, J. B, Jacqui D, Jazelynn G, Javier R, Jesse L, Jodi B, John P, Joshua K, Joya P, Karen B, Kate L, Kathy P, Katt B, Kay O, Kendra R, Konrad M, Kristopher P, Kyoko S, Laura H, Laurie B, Lori S, Lucy S, Maile H, Maya G, Monica G, Marion S, Marisa F, Marya W, Maya Z, Melanie G, Michael S, Michael T, Naja G, Nana C, Nancy N, Nia L, Nicole A, Page A, Pepper F, Pia M, Rachel K, Remi H, Ricardo V,Roxy G, Russell B-A, Sandra S-G, Sara R, Shaina/Bryan B, Stephanie M, Sylvia M, Taja Lindley, Tal Y, Tara S, Tommy D, Tony T, Trina M, Ursula E, Vanessa A, Zachai K-S, Zave M
FILM / Yadira N, Chris B, Paul C, Denis, Blakeney, Sachi, Leyden, Y& A , Coco Karol, Rebecca Bullard Lotz, Kate Weare, Joshua Trinidad, Victor Bautista, DSM, Kathy Westwater, Monica Greene, Regine Pieters, Suzanne Beahrs, T. Nicole, iele paloumpis, Lee Edwards, Kayla Hamilton, Sara R, Nicholas Slie, Andrew and Michelle, Troy O, Melanie G, Nicole Stanton, Dana Nares, Alex R, Jacqueline Davis, Helen, Nancy Ahn, R. Sikoryak, constantina zavitsanos, Almaz Zelleke, KS, Monchesk60, Marcia Taylor, Laura G, cara hagan, Diana Y Greiner, Emily and Moti Margolin, Yanira Castro, RS, Edisa W, lucy sexton, Donna Costello, Karen Bernard-Wixon, Laura Stein, Ursula Eagly, Nicole Brooke Phillips, Sabina Ciari, Douglas Hudgins, Megen, Laurie Berg, Dan Kroop, Sage, Maxine Montilus, thomas giraffe who loves, Rebecca Lloyd-Jones, Jennifer Scully-Thurston, Leo Wu, Olivier Court, Marýa Wethers, J. Bouey, Randi Berry, Eva Lessinger, zavé martohardjono, Ian Trask, andre ignacio dimapilis, Eugene LaMothe, Brianna Taylor, thomas finkelpearl, Jacque Salomon
Support Upcoming Projects
I greatly appreciate your encouragement and support of Sapphire throughout the years. This work feels important, timely, and done in collaboration with you. If you've been to any of my performance offerings of this work, you know it lives in conversation with you and there are a variety of ways to continuing supporting this work (see upcoming project list above) and the community of talented artists who make this work possible. You can tell a friend, contribute via Patreon and Paypal below and/or, be in conversation about other ways to support (time, resources, space, a listening ear). If you have questions or considerations, please message me at methodsofperception (at) gmail.com.
Onward!
