The Kitchen Unveils Fall 2023 Programming: Exploring the Archive and Cross-Institutional Collaboration

Since its inception in 1971, The Kitchen has been a pioneering force in the art world, driven by a mission to empower artists and prioritize process and experimentation. With a renewed commitment to its founding vision, The Kitchen continues to evolve as a dynamic cultural institution that challenges boundaries and shapes a sustainable future in art. Anchored in values of intersectionality, care, and inclusivity, The Kitchen fosters a space where diverse voices can thrive and where the avant-garde is redefined as a collective and global endeavor.

This season marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between The Kitchen and the Dia Art Foundation, further emphasizing the importance of cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary collaboration in contemporary artistic practice. With a focus on the archive’s role in art and the exploration of new possibilities, The Kitchen presents a diverse range of projects that challenge conventions and push the boundaries of creativity.

As The Kitchen’s Chelsea building undergoes renovations, the organization embraces a “Kitchen without walls” concept, extending its programming beyond physical spaces. This approach allows for greater accessibility and engagement with local, national, and international audiences. The launch of a new website in 2023, featuring a reimagined visual and graphic identity, enhances the experience for visitors, emphasizing live recordings, videos, and archival storytelling.

Matthew Lutz-Kinoy’s Filling Station:
One of the highlights of the Fall 2023 season is Matthew Lutz-Kinoy‘s Filling Station. Co-presented by The Kitchen and the Dia Art Foundation, this project reinterprets the 1938 American ballet of the same name. Lutz-Kinoy’s work explores the dynamics of American city and country spaces, addressing issues of identity, gender, race, labor, and class. By engaging with the original ballet’s challenges to the European canon, Filling Station presents ballet as a queered and decolonial practice. The project includes dance performances at the Horatio Street Gas Station and Dia Beacon, along with an exhibition at The Kitchen at Westbeth.

Leslie Cuyjet’s With Marion:
Leslie Cuyjet, a distinguished dance artist, delves into her family archive to create With Marion. This performance is inspired by Cuyjet’s great aunt, Marion Cuyjet, who founded a dance school for Black dancers during a time of segregation. With Marion explores the stories, memories, and research surrounding Marion Cuyjet’s groundbreaking work, shedding light on the challenges faced by Black dancers in Philadelphia. Cuyjet’s performance extends from her previous involvement with The Kitchen’s Dance and Process series, showcasing her unique choreographic voice.

Angels & Demons by Amirtha Kidambi and Darius Jones:
Amirtha Kidambi and Darius Jones collaborate in Angels & Demons, a musical adaptation of cosmological writings by Sun Ra. Kidambi’s captivating vocals and Jones’s alto saxophone compositions pay homage to Sun Ra’s profound legacy. Through their collaboration, they explore the intersections of music, spirituality, and cosmic philosophy, offering audiences a transcendent experience.

L.A.B. Research Residency and NYC Performance Archive:
The Kitchen’s commitment to collaboration and research is evident in its partnership with the School for Poetic Computation (SFPC) for the L.A.B. Research Residency. This collaboration brings together primary researchers and advisors to explore the intersection of art, science, and technology within The Kitchen’s archive. The culmination of this residency will be a series of in-person and online programs, engaging with local and global audiences.

Furthermore, Tyler Morse and nia nottage of steph christ collective launch the NYC Performance Archive 1980–2005, a comprehensive documentation of performance practices in New York City during that period. This archive preserves the voices and experiences of LGBT individuals, women, and artists of color, highlighting their contributions to the vibrant performance scene in the city.

Check out the full fall 2023 announcement –>