As an artistic accompaniment to their “Health, Equity, and Nature” report, Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods put on a bilingual multidisciplinary performance series titled “Convergence: Health Equity in a Changing Climate.” The performances brought music, visual arts, and narration together to tell a story of health equity in Lake County. Living American composers and local visual artists contributed, and the music was performed by Black Moon Trio, Brushwood Center’s resident ensemble group.
For part 1 of this story, about distributing the “Health, Nature, and Equity” report, click here.
PURPOSE OF THE "CONVERGENCE" PERFORMANCE SERIES
“Health, Equity, and Nature: A Changing Climate in Lake County, IL” is a 92-page-long report detailing the intersectionality of environmental and health equity issues in Lake County. While the report is highly visual, incorporating colorful heat maps and local art pieces, the Brushwood Center saw the opportunity to make the data even more engaging.
"After publishing this report last year, one of our arts staff, our Director of Music and Public Programs, said ‘What if we turned this report into a performance?’” shares Catherine Game, executive director. “He had a vision.”
Since the center is as much an arts organization as an environmental one, with a gallery space and art classes offered throughout the year, creating a music and arts performance as a companion piece to the report contents was fitting.
Catherine believes a performance like this welcomes more people to the conversation in a different way than a typical report, which is crucial in the center’s work. "We need everybody,” she says. “This isn't an ‘elected officials only’ or only for people who live in impacted communities. This is work that every one of us has a responsibility toward so we want to bring that message forward.”
The performance series has included two performances so far, the premiere at Gorton Center in Lake Forest, Illinois, and the second showing at Jack Benny Center for the Performing Arts in Waukegan, Illinois.
TOPICS COVERED IN THE PERFORMANCE
The goal of “Convergence” was to cover the same topics as the “Health, Equity, and Nature” report in a more artistic, story-driven way, broadening the audience for the work and making it more accessible to everyone in Lake County.
One of the key messages was that the number one predictor of health outcomes in the United States is a person's zip code, with life expectancies varying by up to 15 years in places mere miles apart. The performance embodies these realities while celebrating nature, educating audience members, and suggesting solutions to current environmental and health equity issues.
"The arts are such a complementary force in this work,” Catherine shares. “They have the power to move hearts and to bring people to a space that I think is really, really important in this work of racial healing. To come into a space of empathy, of understanding, of curiosity, you have to get beyond your analytical brain and go a little deeper.”
THE PERFORMERS AND ARTISTS OF ‘CONVERGENCE’
Parker Nelson, the aforementioned Director of Music and Public Programs, is also the founding member of Black Moon Trio, the ensemble in residence at Brushwood Center. Among the three members, this group has experience in chamber music, social services, and education, all of which they brought to the musical performance in the “Convergence” series.
Brushwood commissioned two living American composers, Marc Mellits and Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, to create original music for the performance. Compositions were also included from TJ Cole, Jonathan Lashnoff, and Eric Ewazen. This choice in music grounds “Convergence” as a present-day telling of environmental racism and health inequities specific to the U.S.
Lastly, five American artists provided the visual accompaniments to the music. Each artist brought their own perspective to health equity.
Natashna Anderson’s art, titled “Sol” (a play on the homonym “soul”), tells the story of the sun’s role in warming a barren cityscape.
Kelley Clink’s hand-created illustrations highlight stories from Lake County residents about their personal barriers to accessing nature and offer solutions for overcoming or circumventing these barriers.
Laura Horan’s animation follows a mushroom as he journeys home through the woods, a piece inspired by the idea of accepting all parts of nature and having transformative experiences.
Lokosh, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, created a mixed media piece inspired by oshta, the number four, and circular forms integral to Chikashsha thought. He explores sacred colors and botanical medicines while reflecting on the future of Yaakniꞌ Ishkiꞌ (Mother Earth).
Art therapist and graphic designer Naimah Thomas centers her art piece on community activism related to environmental justice, such as climate justice through legislation and prioritizing the communities most affected by environmental inequities.
Each artist’s work was also displayed at “The Art of Convergence,” a gallery pop-up at the Brushwood Center that was open during the center’s regular hours.
AUDIENCE REACTIONS TO 'CONVERGENCE’
The Brushwood Center had a great turnout at the premiere of “Convergence”, with glowing reviews from audience members.
One audience member shared, “The mix of quiet explanations of data, along with visual and musical interpretations, was so powerful!” Another said, "The music was most moving. I enjoyed all of the parts. The artwork was incredible, and on point!"
Those who have not yet gotten a chance to watch “Convergence” will have another opportunity in the months ahead. Due to its success, the Brushwood Center plans to bring this piece to public schools around Lake County and Cook County and has hopes for performances in higher educational institutions and on regional and national stages.
Catherine notes that while this is a story of Lake County, the ideas shared about environmental racism and health inequities are relevant everywhere.
“The pattern of what we see of industrialization in communities, and this legacy of pollution in Black and Brown communities – that is the struggle of environmental justice in so many communities around the United States and the world,” Catherine says. “It's a story that resonates much farther beyond the borders of Lake County."
LEARN MORE ABOUT BRUSHWOOD CENTER AT RYERSON WOODS, ‘HEALTH, EQUITY, AND NATURE,’ AND ‘CONVERGENCE’
Those interested in learning more about Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, the “Health, Nature, and Equity” report, and the “Convergence” performance series can visit the following resources:
“Health, Equity, and Nature: A Changing Climate in Lake County, IL” report
“Convergence: Health Equity in a Changing Climate” performance series
Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods is one of 184 grantees who received Healing Illinois funds for 2023-2024. You can view more sub-grantee stories on the Healing Illinois website and Healing Illinois Instagram page, as well as view past and upcoming Healing Illinois events.