FIREBIRD
Throughout the month of June, 2022 and 20233 Guggenheim Fellow Nejla Yatkin surprised park visitors in nature as the mythical bird Firebird in 30 different parks and in 40 Firebird pop ups all in a sustainable relationship with nature and the natural habitat of the park.
In many myth and cultures, the Firebird (or in Egyptian myth its known as the Phoenix) is a messenger of hope and considered to purify the land and waters and hence bestow fertility to where ever the Firebird appears. In addition, the mythical creature represents the union between the Earth and the Sky serving as the mediator and messenger between the two. The performer danced 40 movement meditations to inspire and celebrate the arrival of summer. At the end of each dance, park visitors were invited to join in a collective bird movement meditation guided by Yatkin.
The Firebird costume/dress designed by Katrin Schnabl is portable moves with the wind and responds to the natural elements in an organic wayand live music accompanied by guest performers Patrick Wojtak.
Many arts scholars make an analogy between Yatkin and, Milan Kundera or Italo Calvino—for going into a place and time, exposing it, exploring it, penetrating it and then transcending it. This speaks volumes in a world that has become fragmented and hyper-specialized to the point of myopic ambition. Finally her lifelong commitment to a lifelong career in utilizing dance as a crucial form of social contact, artistic integrity, and collective creativity, represents not only a methodology but also a form of art for exploring and understanding a place from its cultural towers to its stickball origins.
Past FIREBIRD POP UP locations in Chicago
Rainbow Beach &Park, ( 3111 East 77th St.,Chicago, IL 60649)
Jackson Park, ( 6401 S. Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60637)
Oakwood Beach (4100 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60653)
Montrose Beach Park, ( 4400 N Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60613)
Bohn Park, (1966 W. 111th St. Chicago, IL 60643)
Hadiya Pendelton Park, (4345 S. Calumet Ave, Chicago, IL 60653)
Dearborn Park, (865 S. Terrace, Chicago, IL 60605)
Northerly Island Park, (1521 S. Linn White Dr., Chicago, IL 60605)
Ridgeway Trailhead Park (W. Blooming Dale Ave, Chicago, IL 60647)
Berger Mansion (6205 N. Sheridan Rd. Chicago, IL 60660)
West Ridge Park (5801 N. Western Ave. Chicago, IL 60659
Wildwood Park (6950 N. Hiawatha Ave. Chicago, IL 60646)
Williams Park, (2820 S State St, Chicago, IL 60616)
Shabonna Park (6935 W. Addison St. Chicago, IL 60634)
Legion Park (3100 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Chicago, IL) 60659
Indian Boundary (2500 W. Lunt Ave. Chicago, IL 60645)
Clark Boathouse (3400 N. Rockwell St. Chicago, IL 60618)
Peace Garden (Lakefront Trail, Chicago, IL 60640)
Maggie Daley (331 E Randolph St Chicago, IL 60601)
Promontory Point (5491 S. Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60615)
Lincoln Park, (2045 N. Lincoln Park West Chicago, IL 60610)
Bessemer Park, (8930 S Muskegon Ave, Chicago, IL 60617)
Arcade Park, (11132 S. St. Lawrence Ave. Chicago, IL 60628)
Jesse Owens Park (8800 S. Clyde Ave. Chicago, IL 60617)
Vittum Park (5010 W. 50th St. Chicago, IL 60638)
Big Marsh (11555 S. Stony Island Ave. Chicago, IL 60617)
Gage Park (2411 W. 55th St. Chicago, IL 60632)
McKinley Park (2210 W. Pershing Rd. Chicago, IL 60609)
Humboldt Park (1440 N. Humboldt Boulevard Chicago, IL 60622)
Caracol Gathering (Space South of McCormick Place Bird Sanctuary, approximately 2400 S. Lake Shore Drive)
Firebird by Nejla Yatkin is presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor’s Office and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The Night Out in the Parks program presents cultural events year-round in neighborhood parks throughout the city. The Chicago Park District in partnership with 100 local artists and organizations, present engaging events and performances that enhance quality of life across Chicago and amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy in every neighborhood. Through multiple disciplines, which include theater, music, movies, dance, site-specific work, nature programs, and community festivals, the series aims to support Chicago-based artists, facilitate community-based partnerships and programs, cultivate civic engagement, and ensure equity in access to the arts for all Chicagoans. For more information, please visitwww.nightoutintheparks.com.
Bios: Bio for Nejla Yatkin (Performer):
Described by The New York Times as "a magician, telling tales and creating worlds" and "a fierce and supple performer," Chicago-based choreographer Nejla Yatkin travels the globe inspiring empathic connections between people and their environments. She creates solos, choreographs ensemble dances for stages and sites, collaborates on plays and film/video projects, and educates young artists. Nejla hails from Germany; her artistic lineage enfolds European dance-theatre, American Modern Dance, African-American modern dance, and numerous international influences. She is the recipient of awards from the Princess Grace Foundation, the National Performance Network, 3Arts and the Baryshnikov Arts Center, among others.
Katrin Schnabl (Costume Designer)
Katrin Schnabl is a designer whose work is primarily situated in contemporary fashion and performance. Visual attributes expand movement, explore tensions, negative space, flow and patterns, and emotional attributes enhance and sharpen the performer's sense of their role. The name lineamente suggests trailing and defining emphatic vault lines created by underlying motion or tension. With every garment there is a re-negotiation of form, of edge, of outline, of lineament that encourages a shift of perception. Edge emerges as a crucial border where cloth ends and skin begins.
Patrick Wojtak (Musician)
A multi-instrumentalist (Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano) who composes and performs music in the spirit of healing transcendence. With roots in both the Storytelling and Improv communities, Patrick acknowledges the transformational possibilities of live theater and its creative potential. His studies in varied acting techniques, particularly Meisner, offers him the opportunity to perform truthfully under any circumstance.
Enki Andrews (Video)
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