Time of Change, Joe Goode Performance Group’s (JGPG’s) most recent large-scale, site-based installation, took place during the fall of 2021 in outdoor and indoor locations throughout the historic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood in San Francisco. Co-directed by Joe Goode/JGPG, Melecio Estrella and OYSTERKNIFE (Chibueze Crouch + Gabriele Christian), the production was well received – selling out a multi-week run. Moreover, the work made a positive impact on Haight-Ashbury and the local performing arts community.
Since then, community members have expressed an interest in learning what the process was like for the artistic team and what they’re taking with them from the experience. JGPG conducted a post-production reflections convening with the co-Directors, who have shared some highlights from the conversation:
- Throughout the process, the artistic team demonstrated fluidity, adaptability, generosity and grace with each other – as well as to the local community onsite – including the unhoused and local merchants.
- The work invigorated the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood during a time of challenge in the midst of the pandemic – it felt like giving a gift vs being a burden.
- Some of the co-Directors lived and worked onsite during the development process. The experience was humbling, confidence-building and led to incidental interactions that influenced the work.
- The team also interviewed local residents, like Danny Glover. And Joe Goode had the opportunity to interview a local community member, David Smith (Haight St Clinic) – it felt like living in a piece of history.
- Moving forward, team members will look for opportunities to deepen their engagement with the community and each other. This will allow for further exchange of processes and inspirations derived from the interactions between the director, performers and community members.
Thank you for your support for the project and interest in the Time of Change reflections process. We look forward to sharing more about JGPG’s next site work, currently scheduled for summer 2023.
Time of Change was presented in partnership with San Francisco Heritage, with producing support by BANDALOOP.
Time of Change is made possible with support from The Creative Work Fund, a program of the Walter and Elise Haas Fund that also is supported by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; San Francisco Grants for the Arts; Kenneth Rainin Foundation; Bernard Osher Foundation; Frances Hellman and Warren Breslau; and the generosity of many more individuals.
Joe Goode Performance Group is further supported by Bill Graham Foundation, Caerus Foundation, Fleishhacker Foundation, Sam Mazza Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation, and the Zellerbach Family Foundation.