Richmond: Symphony of a City

2018

as part of “Declaration” at ICA, Richmond, Virginia (US)

The project is the United States premiere of Estman Radio, an ongoing project in which Senatore creates space for anyone to share their ideas in an open way.

For the duration of Declaration, the piece will operate as a “self-service” radio platform. Patrons are invited to use the equipment to record ideas, conversations, and declarations, or to submit contributions by email (see instructions at www.estmanradio.com). Visitors may stay to listen as others record, or browse prior submissions on the Estman Radio archive—using the iPad on the small table. The recording equipment is generally available on a first-come basis; there are no set time limits but users are asksed to please be respectful and share with others. Periodically, hosts invited by the ICA will record live conversations here that also will become part of the Estman Radio: Richmond archive.

In Richmond: Symphony of a City, Marinella Senatore will create a large-scale participatory performance centering on a “radio drama”—an audio collage about Richmond, based in part on stories gathered from the city’s residents through an open call. The radio drama was performed live in front of the audience.

The radio drama was directed by Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, a VCU professor and artistic director for The Conciliation Project, a non-profit social justice theater company based in Richmond. It was be recorded and broadcast later on local radio, and archived for further dissemination by the ICA. This performance is linked to Senatore’s Estman Radio project.