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ACTIVISM

JACK

I am a co-founder, board member, and music curator emeritus, of the OBIE award winning performance venue JACK. Located in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, JACK has become home to some of the most important topics in theater, music, and dance.  As a fertile ground for new talent, JACK's mission focuses on "fueling experiments in art and activisim, collaborating with adventurous artists and our neighbors to bring about a just and vibrant society".

JACK Mission Statement


In 2012 I took the very big plunge of co-founding a performing arts non-profit in the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn. Since opening, JACK has become a New York phenomenon in the truest sense and Brooklyn's home for cutting edge art.  With a mission to provide radical access to the arts for all audiences, JACK's co-founders have worked tirelessly to promote the newest in theater, music, and dance.


Here is the plan: JACK provides a performance space for local, national, and international artists. We tailor our events to the diverse needs and expectations of the artists involved. Then, we work to promote these events throughout our community. The communal goal: to raise awareness and visibility for all artists. As this program evolves, thrives, and comes to represent the artistic vanguard, support from community leaders and taste makers allow us to increase visibility, opportunities, and impact for everyone. Then we all have a glass of wine and celebrate together! Sounds good, right?

As of this moment we have successfully raised over $30,000 for our music program alone.  The curatorial team at JACK has presented thousands of performances which have given a stage to local artists and brought international talent to the residents of the borough.  Lives have been changed and minds have been opened. I take great satisfaction in knowing that we have succeeded in the opening rounds of a grass roots cultural institution. I can only imagine where we will go from here.

To get involved and/or become a supporter email [email protected].
​

www.jackny.org
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The JACK co-founders on opening week
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Pre-show talk with the audience.
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Roy Campbell: photo Peter Gannushkin
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Isabelle Duthoit: photo Peter Gannushkin
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Louis D.E. Jensen: photo Peter Gannushkin
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Evan Parker: photo Peter Gannushkin
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William Parker: photo Peter Gannushkin
The following is a partial list of musicians who have performed at JACK:

Sean Ali
Michael Anderson
Ron Anderson
Lotte Anker
Steve Baczkowski 
Mick Barr
Tim Berne
Sarah Berstein
Chuck Bettis
Jim Black
Dan Blacksberg
Tom Blancarte 
John Blum
Leila Bordrieul
Taylor Ho Bynum
Brooklyn Raga Massive
Roy Campbell
Daniel Carter
Charity Chan
Gerald Cleaver
Quiet City
Anthony Coleman
Chris Corsano
Cooper-Moore
Jeremiah Cymmerman
Nathan Davis
Eisa Davis
Tim Dahl
Don Dietrich
Charles Downs
Mark Dresser
Andrew Drury
Shayna Dunkelman
Shayna Dulberger
Isabelle Duthoit
Marc Edwards
Jerome Ellis
Peter Evans
Michael Evans
Kali Fasteau 
Paul Flaherty 
Ingebrigt Haker Flaten
Tiger Hatchery
Franz Hautzinger
Ken Filiano
Michael Foster
Charles Gayle
Vinnie Golia
Frank Gratkowski
Phillip Greenlief
Dave Grollman
Mary Halvorson
Jim Hobbs
William Hooker
Iktus Percussion Ensemble
Jon Irabagon
Louis DE Jensen
Ryan Jewell
Jooklo Duo
Greg Kelley
Kyoko Kitamura
Ingrid Laubrock
Okkyung Lee
Emilie Lesbros
Levy Lorenzo
Joe McPhee
Ava Mendoza
Joe Merolla
Kid Millions
Joe Morris
Ras Moshe
Bill Nace
Tatsuya Nakatani
Keir Neuringer 
Pascal Niggenkemper
Matt Nelson 
Anders Nilsson
Bern Nix
Evan Parker
William Parker
Andrea Parkins
Vasudevan Panicker
Dan Peck
John Pietaro
Paul Pinto
Chris Pitsiokos
Sam Pluhta
Mike Pride
Nick Podgurski
Stuart Popejoy
Radical2
Tom Rainey
Blipvert
Mette Rasmussen
Bhob Rainey
Les Rhinoceros
Anne Rhodes
Antione Roney
Elevator Rose
Ned Rothenberg
Xenia Rubinos
Jim Sauter
Brandon Seabrook
Kevin Shea 
Tamio Shiraishi
Ches Smith
Ron Stabinsky
Steve Swell
Rhonda Taylor
thingNY
Cactus Truck
Fay Victor
Weasel Walter 
Joelle Simone Wagner
Nate Wooley  
Jack Wright
C. Spencer Yeh
Nonoko Yoshida
Stanley Zappa

Voices of Our City Choir

In 2018, I responded to a call to action from a past collaborator, Leah Bowden, who has become president of the Voices of Our City Choir.  This not for profit organization was created in 2016 in response to the housing crisis in San Diego and beyond.  The choir serves as a space for mutual aid and community building, as well as giving voice to San Diego's homeless community, past and present. 

I sing with the choir and help do the little things I can at rehearsals.
​

www.voicesofourcity.org

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