The Tender Cargo exhibit will be accompanied by a Film Screening + Discussion on Thursday, November 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the gallery.

Visitors are welcome to experience the film screening of Waves and Shadows followed by a panel discussion about the collaborative process for both the projects/installations: Waves and Shadows and Tender Cargo, with Taleen Batalian, Antonio Forte, Heidi Henderson, Keri King, and Michele L’Heureux.

This event is free, donations encouraged.

About the Film

Waves and Shadows is a collaborative performance installation that explores the boundaries of form and presentation. Taleen Batalian’s collection of sculptural garments merge with performance, music, dance and environment through an installation, which will manifest in two forms. Batalian and her collaborators explore the ephemeral and fleeting qualities of waves and shadows as guiding themes of the project.

Tender Cargo, is a month-long exhibition by Taleen Batalian. The exhibition explores how bodies hold and carry trauma across time and geography, drawing on artist Taleen Batalian’s legacy as the granddaughter of four grandparents from Western Armenia. Batalian grew up surrounded by references to the Genocide her family endured, but it was never discussed openly. After the death of her mother in 2012, Batalian began using textiles and sculpture to unpack this murky silence and interpret her cultural history to understand the legacy of trauma passed down from her grandparents to her parents and ultimately to her. Tender Cargo investigates what it means to wear and carry our trauma and asks us to consider how the body traverses under the weight of these heavy loads.

Tender Cargo comprises sculptural garments, other 2D and 3D artworks, and an original soundscape. The exhibition will culminate in a live performance with dance, original sound score, and scenic design.

The exhibition is on view in the WaterFire Arts Center gallery from Thursday, October 13 through Sunday, November 20, 2022.

The WaterFire Arts Center store + gallery hours are Wednesday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Collaborators: Antonio Forte, sound design | Heidi Henderson, choreography/dance | Keri King, scenic design/project consultation | Michele L’Heureux, curation

Tender Cargo is supported by: RI State Council on the Arts | The City of Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism | Real Dream Design | The Wilbury Theatre Group

taleenbatalian.com
@taleenbatalian

Additional Exhibit Programming

A Live Performance will take place on Thursday, November 17 starting at 7:00 p.m.

Learn more