Digital: Spotlight: Kayla Farrish/ Decent Structures Arts

MARCH 24-26, 8:00 PM EDT
ONLINE

Martyr’s Fiction
Rough Director’s Cut

Martyr’s Fiction witnesses five venturing Black American and Women characters allowing themselves to finally dream, eruptively questioning reality, to reclaim life in a dance-theater narrative-film. Stemming from “who can afford to dream?” with lives based in survival and reality immersed in overwhelming surreal violence, each character pushes up against their boundaries-imposed and personal. In varying forms of film, histories, fantasy, and embodiment, their personal quests move through both imagination and reckon with truth as they transform. Immersing in stories of martyrs and unsung heroes, the narrative confronts what we think isn’t possible for ourselves—dismantling present conditions within American oppression.

About Kayla Farrish/Decent Structures Arts

Kayla Farrish/Decent Structures Arts combines filmmaking, dance-theater, and sound score. Company commissions include Gibney (2020-2021), Louis Armstrong Museum (2020), Danspace (2019), Pepatian/BAAD! (2018), and beyond. Residencies include: Gallim (2021), Gibney, Baryshnikov Arts Center, AOS, NYU (2020), Keshet MSE, BAX, Petronio Residency Center (2019), Pepatian/BAAD! (2018), and Chez Bushwick (2017). Creations include Black Bodies Sonata, The New Frontier, With grit From, Grace, Spectacle, and Martyr’s Fiction (2021). In 2020-2021, she directed films and live performance hybrids: Inside the Laughing Barrel Collaboration (Armstrong Now!), Films Harbor, Falling Distance (Kizuna Dance/Alfred University Commission), The Poem, and Biggie, 3 Shepherds (Derrick Belcham), and co-directed Melanie Charles Y’ll Dnt Care Abt Blk Women. She made film Rinsing (Joe’s Pub/DanceNOW), co-choreographed with Brandon Coleman site-specific Broken Record (Little Island Festival), solo– NYLA Motherboard Suite, Roster Music and Dance Collaboration with Melanie Charles for Four/Four, and directed Martyr’s Fiction Feature Film.

Gibney’s Spotlight highlights the work of early-career artists with generous support from the Jerome Foundation, and offers a rich blend of dance and performance in fully produced, evening-length commissions.

Director, Writer, Producer, Choreographer: Kayla Farrish
Assistant Director, Assistant Producer, Cinematography, and Camera: Kerime Konur
Performing Collaborators- Collaboration in Choreography, Character, Scene, and Text: Jamal Abrams, Alexander Diaz, Quaba Ernest, Kayla Farrish, Rebecca Margolick, Nik Owens, Kar’mel Small
Contributing Collaborators: Dare Ayorinde, Yeman Brown, Tadarius Hall, Melike Konur, Layne Willis
Location Scout, Manager: Hannah Straney
Camera, Cinematography, DP, Lighting, Consulting in Producing: Jake Kruty, Cayla Simpson, Joe Hill, Kerime Konur, Julia Discenza, Aaron Cooper
Production Assistant: Hayley Ader and Hannah Straney
Costume Consultation: Alex and Julia Abene, Caitlin Taylor, and Mia Wright Ross Alexander Diaz and Hayley Ader

This work was also supported by Dance Films Association Production Grant, Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective Mentorship Fellowship, and Sundance Emerging BIPOC Directors Grant. Space Residency and Grant Support from Baryshnikov Arts Center Space Residency, Arts On Site Residency, NYU Tisch Spaces, Gallim Women + Residency, and Hannah Straney with Dave Warner of Little Falls. Predominant film locations were donated by Little Falls Community and Film Residencies by Hannah Straney and Dave Warner. Other locations include Gibney Theater and Brooklyn Rental Spaces.

Produced by Kayla Farrish and Assistant Producer, Kerime Konur.

Videostill from Martyr’s Fiction captured by Kerime Konur, Jake Kruty, and Joe Hill.