Nesting/Anidaciones

Directed and Organized by Naomi Lev, EFA Project Space

Facilitators:
William Chan
Eva Mayhabal Davis

Participants:
Cassandra Mayela
Amy Khoshbin + House of Trees
poetry by Naomi Shihab Nye
Daniel Ramirez
Alena Lipa
Maria Fernanda González (Mafer Bandola)

January 19 - March 4, 2023

Dear visitor,

Thank you for visiting this art gallery. EFA Project Space is a non-for-profit art space that is open to the public. This space is dedicated to providing artists across all disciplines with support to present artistic endeavors considering community engagement and programming among other resources.

Nesting is the act of creating your space, of collecting, and building. For today, Nesting is a sanctuary and mutual aid resource center. We hope that you find warmth and comfort. The space is activated with visual art, workshops, and music. New York City is built on (im)migrant labor and is home to innumerable communities from all over the world. Today we continue to welcome new arrivals, they are our neighbors, friends, and future.

We welcome all visitors to take a seat, enjoy the art, ask questions, take photos, share and take information. You can participate and explore the Free Store, where neighbors have collected clothing for visitors to take. This space was conceptualized together with the artists and facilitators with decentralized and holistic principles.

Throughout the time of the exhibit there will be events to attend for free: evenings of music by Mafer Bandola introducing the Venezuelan folklore of Joropo to New York City, Saturday meditation and yoga classes, as well as an evening of art talks and sharing food.

There is a workshop set up by Cassandra Mayela, collecting and making art from clothes, weaving and recycling textile materials. She uses textiles to connect to her sense of home mapping the movement of our bodies from one place to the next, our clothes express our colors and comfort. Cassandra considers how clothes hold our bodies and travel with us, oftentimes to the point of exhaustion leaving remnants, but other times passing on to our neighbors taking new life.

You can peruse the paintings by Alena Lipa, a series of portraits of her community. Alena’s paintings play with color adding warmth and depth to the faces of care, love, and pride. The portraits range from playful expressions of joy like that of her son titled Danya and Rendall (2022), to Tenderness (2022), shy and beautiful, while also sincere and solemn. Alena is an asylum seeker and the mom of a transgender son. Her paintings are an act of advocacy that celebrate the resilience of the Russian LGBTQ+ community.

The banners hanging from the ceiling are a call for action, by Amy Khoshbin in close collaboration with House of Trees, and poetry by Naomi Shihab Nye. These palms celebrate collaboration, hope, and togetherness. These banners are intended for marches and actions to be borrowed by anyone - taking them out into the streets and as such becoming emblems of our commitment as a community that pledges to be welcoming.

The photographs by Daniel Ramirez show the beauty of his home country Venezuela. Daniel has worked profoundly documenting and archiving the distinct natural, architectural and sociocultural differences of the vast regions of Venezuela especially his home state of Táchirahe. His scenes capture the Andean Mountain sides, Caribbean coastal shores, and the people that work and hold the culture of his home country.

Nesting is a creative response to uplift the growing community of asylum seekers in NYC. It is a space to reflect, engage, and rest. You can also join us, ask, volunteer, and find your role in uplifting these voices for the growth and prosperity of our city.

Facilitator William Chan tells us: “The lack of continuity across administrations coupled with insufficient understanding by the public adds to the uncertainty in the lives of asylum seekers. Will children have access to school during this mayoral term? Will children have access to the same school and graduate if another political party takes office in the future? Joshua Goldfein, a staff lawyer for the Legal Aid Society, said about this recent surge of asylum seekers coming to New York City, ‘As happens in every new mayoral administration, people come in who have not dealt with this before and they’re confronted with what their obligations are. Their initial response is: Can’t we get out of this?’ Homeless shelters and sanctuaries are mostly off limits to the public for safety and privacy reasons. In order for the public to assist in this crisis and push our government for sustainable solutions, the public will first need to have a better understanding of the situation.”

Art does a good job of activating a conversation, please join us.

Public Programs:

Free Store open during Gallery Hours: Weds-Sat, 12-6 PM
We’re here sorting donations on Thursdays, 2-4 PM.

Joropo Party & Workshop with Mafer Bandola
Party: January 20, 6-8 PM
Workshop: February 24, 6-8 PM
Culminating Performance: March 3, 6-8 PM

Yoga & Meditation Class: Nesting 
January 28 and February 11, Saturdays,
11 AM-12 PM

Please join us for a 1-hour Yoga & Meditation class with Sofía Reeser del Rio. This class does not require any experience. Yoga is an exercise for the body and mind connecting through  breathing, relaxation and postures. Please bring a large towel or yoga mat.   

El Salón: Nesting 
Thursday, February 16, 6 PM 

An evening of art talks and sharing food. As part of Nesting, artists and community members will share and speak on their projects and art making. 

El Salón is a gathering to share ideas, food, conversation, and acknowledgement of presence. This assembly travels and collaborates with various spaces to host forums on contemporary art and cultural topics. Most of the time as a nutritious and soulful potluck. #elsalónpotluck

PlayCo’s Month of Rest: Healing Sound Bath
Saturday, February 25, 4 PM

Bring yourself, warm clothing, and a yoga mat. The sound bath will be an hour long meditation. Sam Xu and Daniel Givens will lead us in a workshop utilizing gongs tuned at a series of vibration frequencies that resonate with the moon and other planets in our solar system. This event will be in person. Masks and up-to-date vaccination required.

Spring is Here!
Wednesday, March 1, 5:30-8 PM

The Russian speaking LGBTQ+ community of New York together with Nesting artist Alena Lipa are happy to invite you to an evening of music, performance, and games.

Press:
Cassandra Mayela Interviewed, BOMB Magazine

Installation Photos by Jakob Dahlin
Event Photography by EFA Project Space
All photos courtesy of EFA Project Space