“Caspio’s immersive work interweaves sensory and mental information to open new avenues of thought. Ray’s work is intimate–deeply, unapologetically intimate–but it is communal too, with microscopically-focused, ironic details and an expansive sense of cosmic unity.”
“Powerful, thought-provoking, provocative. A must see.”
THE WALL is a durational performance installation centered around a 6’4” x 6’4” wall of text from Caspio’s studio composed of automatic writings recorded during their 18 month pandemic isolation. The result is a dreamlike meditation on loss, Self, sexuality, and memory inviting participants to face the walls we erect around ourselves. THE WALL's raw vulnerability and immersive reflection in a time of lies, chaos, and fear of "the other" is a journey of acceptance toward the wholeness of ourselves, and each other, before our time is through. THE WALL brings the story to life through paintings, audio, photography, and automatic and homoerotic drawings, with performance uniting all of the elements. The space and performance will evolve throughout the seven performance, 27 hour process.
THE WALL is supported by The Satellite Fund, administered by SPACES, and funded by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Regional Regranting Program. It is co-produced by Caspio and Ohio City Theatre Project.
REMAINING PERFORMANCES
The April-May 2023 27-hour durational performance has concluded. It consisted of six three-hour performances, and closed with one nine-hour performance.
GALLERY DAYS
Gallery Days have concluded.
WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU LONG TO SAY? TO MANIFEST OUT OF THE MIND?
Adjacent to the enclosure in which I performed was a wall inviting patrons to leave behind what the work they were immersed in was bringing up in them. Here are those responses, as well as an e-mailed response.
WHERE
1300 Gallery at 78th Street Studios
1300 W 78th Street, Suite 101, Cleveland, OH 44102
TEAM
creator/performer: Ray Caspio
movement coach: Pandora Robertson
wall & enclosure construction: Bobby Ayala Perez
curator: Kelly Pontoni
installation assistant: Karen D. Beckwith
soundscape: Paul K. Bisson
sound design & tech: Lisa Wiley
marketing: James Kopniske
social media: Michael Prosen
docents: Emily Liptow, Amy Schwabauer, Kevenn T. Smith & Leigh Tennant
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
The performance begins and ends at the times above. Your contribution allows you entry for that full time, or to come and go on this date as you wish. Each performance is an action painting, building off one another, influenced by who and what is in the space at the time.
Please silence your cell phones. No photos, video, or audio recording is permitted. Consider the space a sanctuary where we can be present.
WHERE
1300 Gallery at 78th Street Studios
1300 West 78th Street #101
Cleveland, Ohio 44102
Drive down W 78th Street toward 78th Street Studios’ main parking lot. Before you reach the main lot, you’ll see a Native American mural and Picture Framing sign on the left. The entrance to 1300 Gallery can be found here, across from HEDGE Gallery. There are seven stairs leading into the space.
**Note, there is no access to 1300 Gallery if you enter through 78th Street Studios' main entrance. The only access is through 1300 Gallery's door directly off of West 78th Street.**
PARKING
Free parking is available in 78th Street Studios’ North and South lots and on the street.
COVID-CONSCIOUS POLICY
N95, KN95, or surgical masks are required to be worn in the space over your mouth and nose at all times for the health of the unmasked performer throughout this seven-week durational performance process, as well as the health of all patrons and staff. Complimentary surgical masks will be provided to those who need them. Surgical masks may be worn under cloth masks for increased protection.
Please stay home if you feel unwell in any way. E-mail raycaspio@gmail.com to let us know what performance date you’ll be switching to.
SAFETY
Firearms and/or weapons of any kind are not permitted in the space.
We are grateful to our donors!
Sarah Greywitt & Fred Mowery
Robert Hawkes
Christine Howey
Diane Roberts
Judith Ross
Frances Smith
James and Linda Smith
Susan Soltis