Ralph Lemon’s Ceremonies Out of the Air is currently on display at MoMA PS1 in Long Island City.
The exhibition features more than 40 pieces with collaborative monthly performances of dance, drawings, painting, photographs, sculpture, video installations, and whatever else happens.
The “whatever else happens” is about to…well…happen with In Proximity, a program that includes several New York City and world premieres of Lemon’s newest works, which anchor the exhibition’s explorations of Blackness, devotion, generosity, joy, and mortality.
Developed from Lemon’s research into movement, sound, and text in non-dance spaces, In Proximity extends his dialogue with the performative sculptural practice of artist Bruce Nauman. It features an original score and sound design realized in collaboration with Philip White. And at MoMA PS1, the work includes a prelude by the Brass Band, whose abstract music recalls the New Orleans Jazz tradition.
The roughly 45-minute shows are on Jan. 16 at 7 pm and Jan. 18 at 4 pm with a Brass Band only concert on Jan. 19 at 4 pm. They’re free with RSVP, and scheduled performers include Darrell Jones, Lysis (Ley), Jimena Paz, Samita Sinha, Bantu Al-Abu, Warren “Trae” Crudup III, Kalia Vandever, Chris Ryan Williams, and Roderick Murray.
MoMA PS1 is at 22-25 Jackson Ave. By subway, take the E, M, or 7 to Court Sq or the G to Court Sq or 21St-Van Alst. By bus, take the Q67 to Jackson and 46th avenues or the B62 to 46th Avenue.
Editor’s note: As mentioned, access to In Proximity is free with RSVP. However, general admission to MoMA PS1 is $10 with 50 percent discounts for seniors (65+) and students. New York residents and children under age 17 can enter for free.
Images: MoMA PS1