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AUDIENCE REVIEW: ESTIA Day Fest - A Home for Freelance Artists

Company:
ESTIA Creative Home

Performance Date:
October 5, 2024

Freeform Review:

ESTIA Creative Home hosted their annual ESTIA Day Fest on October 5, 2024, at Brooklyn Art Haus in Williamsburg, New York. Every corner of the venue, from the entryway to the hallways, was filled with art — from crocheted goods to sculptures, alongside live performances ranging from spoken word to dance.

The program was split into two sections: the first followed a museum-style format, while the second resembled a more traditional dance performance. During the museum portion, patrons could walk through the various spaces and catch glimpses of film screenings, visual and movement installations, live music, dance performances, and spoken word. 

Highlights of this portion included “slowDANCE” by Lou Sydel, where performers wearing blue masks engaged with the audience interactively, and “Lumi’s Spaces” by Let Hair Down, which featured the artist moving under a sheer fabric that was covered in splatters of glow-in-the-dark paint, her body and fabric glowing in rhythm. The spoken word performance by Leilani was incredibly powerful, as her words pierced through the space with every syllable she said. 

In ESTIA’s “Main Stage” space, longer visual and live installations filled the room. The space was transformed depending on what was being showcased at that time. When guests first enter the space, the room was bathed in blue light, with tables set up where you could receive poetry by Leilani or tarot readings by Emmé de la Sol, as you’re accompanied by DJ Latina Ballerina & other various artists. Later, the tables were removed and the lighting dimmed, almost completely, with a red light circling the space for “An Unsolved Exercise” by Demetris Charalambous. The final work in Main Stage for the first half was “How to Grow Una Flor en el Deseierto” by Ameeya Singh, a poignant, multidisciplinary work that included nostalgic projected images, soothing notes from a recorded guitar, snippets of stories and poems read aloud by Alina Fresquez Patrick and two dancers (Jamie Kleinschnitz and Jamie Muth) who embodied the words we heard with themes around heritage, history, and complex relationships. 

With so many simultaneous performances, it was impossible to see everything during this first half which left me a little anxious about the work I was missing. However, this added a layer of uniqueness to the show, as each person could go on their own journey and choose which work to interact with. The packed audience, deeply engaged with both artists and their work, gave the evening a sense of hope and reinforced the belief that art remains vital in today’s world.

At 8 pm, the dance performances curated under “Stageworks” began in the Main Stage space. Stageworks featured eight works that showcased a range of styles from striking contemporary solos like “VAMP” by Jessy Crist, to smooth, yet energetic, R&B grooves in “Changeover Boogie” from The Pocket Fuel Groovers, choreographed by Nick Alselmo and his performers. Many pieces incorporated live sound including “The Walk of Scaarleas Escada” by Xxhe, which featured Xxhe as an angelic opera singer whose voice was in perfect harmony with Maxine Flasher-Düzgüneş’s movement. Together, they conveyed light and darkness in what seemed to be an extraterrestrial world.

Sound played a key role in another standout performance, “Sea/Struck” by Dale Ratcliff & Nikki Theroux. This tender duet consumed the space with their expansive movements and effortless transitions. They reached outside of their bodies and wrapped into themselves as if they were bringing the space around them into their organs. Their recorded soundtrack had poems spoken over them with phrases like, “You could be a wildflower." The words we heard created a visible parallel to their constantly evolving choreography, evoking deep emotion and exploration. 

Other works in the program included “Home, Returning?” by Rosa Allegra Wolff, “you’re your own god” by Taylor Adams and Camilla Araque, “Clap Hands” by Annika Wong, and “ALIEN” by Alexa Wilson.

The evening concluded with a talkback portion where the founders, Lydia Perakis and LOLA gathered with the artists to share more about ESTIA and insights on the works presented. Perakis emphasized that the mission behind ESTIA was to create a home for the work of freelance artists to present their work independently of institutions.

“Maybe tonight inspires you to not wait,” Perakis encouraged.

ESTIA Day Fest truly lived up to its mission, offering a platform for a multitude of artists to share their creations. Not only does ESTA highlight the richness of freelance artists, but they are working to actively build a community that encourages collaboration, creativity, and independence.

Author:
Rachel Ha-Eun Lee

Photo Credit:
"VAMP" by Jessy Dae captured by Stephlemes