Spring 2020 - Summer 2021

Microcosms was a project that we began in 2020 that led to a bicycle-tour to an artist residency in 2021. While this project was extremely fruitful in refining our company's membership, values and creative process, ultimately the COVID-19 pandemic made touring our work impossible.

Microcosms Project

From July 2020 through May 2021, we gathered twice a month on Zoom to share creative offerings. Beginning with the prompt, "What have you been thinking about?" our explorations wandered through many ideas before gradually circling back to the world just outside—and beneath—our feet.

A compilation of our "zoom" work

COLLABORATORS

Miguel Alejandro Castillo

Sam Cordes

Selena Feliciano

Jaren Feeley

Kean Haunt

Kendrick Haunt

Jenny Hipscher

Lexy Ho-Tai

Cameron Nielson

John Paul Olsen

Jackie Rivera

Rose Schwietz

Dara Silverman

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In June 2021, twelve Rascals from across the United States (and beyond!) gathered in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Some were old friends; others were meeting in person for the very first time.

After loading up our bikes, we pedaled to The Sable Project, an off-the-grid farm and artist residency in Stockbridge, Vermont, where we spent three weeks creating in near isolation.

Our residency concluded with a work-in-progress sharing at Sable's Food & Art Friday before we climbed back on our bicycles and rode home.

The play that emerged shifted our focus from the human world to the intricate systems of the natural one. Through puppetry, masks, movement, and music, we explored what might be learned from the vast microcosms all around us.

The project also became an opportunity to rethink how we tour, collaborate, and care for one another. From maintaining our bicycles and sharing responsibilities to building trust, giving feedback, and creating a more equitable company culture, we treated our process with the same care as the work itself.