Initiated in 2011 by Judy Hussie-Taylor and Jenn Joy, Conversations Without Walls (CWW) are long-form, Saturday afternoon, roundtable discussions that provide context and insight into the work of Danspace Project’s artists and Platforms. The nearly decade-long series facilitates intergenerational conversations between writers, scholars, choreographers, and audiences.

Choreographer and curator, Ishmael Houston-Jones and lighting designer, Carol Mullins have long and formative histories at Danspace Project. In this talk the two discuss the 1978 fire at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, the aftermath of that tragedy, and the architectural and programmatic reconstruction of Danspace Project and its shared home in the Sanctuary. Houston-Jones recalls his humble introduction to Danspace which soon evolved into his curating the 1982 groundbreaking series, Parallels, which included works lit by Mullins. 

The conversation concludes with a live screening of Relatives (Super-8, short, 1989) directed by Julie Dash and filmed by Arthur Jafa. 

This program will be captioned.