If you've been following what's happening with us, you'll know that we have all been waiting anxiously for news from our windowsill.... And we can now happily report that our resident mourning dove's eggs have hatched! She has sat there these past couple weeks through all manner of cultural programming including a hardcore show or two. Maybe last night's gong bath vibrations shook those eggs right open. Anyway, exciting news!
ALSO p.s. we now have enough money to buy a building........!!!!!!!!!
Edit as of June 1 2024 -
Rhizome owns a building. Wow! What now?!? We still need to raise funds to cover the renovations. So we are still accepting donations and loans between $2,500-$10,000 from community members. Thank you all so much for the absolutely incredible show of support thusfar.
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Rhizome is trying to buy a building and we need your help!
1. We still don't have to leave our current location yet, and don't know when we will have to. Keep those fingers crossed.
2, We have been awarded a large building purchase grant from @thedcarts !
3. We need more funds to make it happen. We have just launched a campaign that you can donate to! Link in bio!
givebutter.com/rhizomedc
4. We will also be accepting LOANS from community members in the very near future. Link to more info about that also in our bio!
rhizomedc.org/communityfinancing
Thank you so much Rhizome family. The prospect of a place to call our own that we won't have to worry about being kicked out of is very exciting. Any little bit helps! Please share!
P.S. in case it is not obvious, that image is an "artist's rendering". This is not a done deal. We need to pull it off together!
In full solidarity with the people of Palestine, Rhizome DC formally commits to the Palestinian international call for 𝗕𝗼𝘆𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁, 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (BDS) and pledges to uphold the guidelines of the 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝘆𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹 (PACBI).
Official Israeli cultural institutions are complicit in the Israeli system of oppression that has denied Palestinians their basic rights guaranteed by international law. As an organization we therefore commit to:
Boycott any 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 or event that is sponsored, commissioned, or funded by an official Israeli body;
Refrain from participation in any form of academic and 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, collaboration, or joint projects with Israeli institutions;
Refrain from hosting or circulating any events or cultural products operating under the auspices of 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 or which advance a false symmetry between oppressed and oppressor;
Support 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 directly without requiring them to partner with Israeli counterparts as an explicit or implicit condition for such support.
Rhizome DC will neither collaborate with nor provide or accept funding from state-sponsored Israeli institutions and organizations unless & until the state of Israel meets the three demands of the BDS call: to end the Israeli occupation & colonization of all Palestinian lands and dismantle the wall; to recognize the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; & to respect, protect, & promote the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes & properties, as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.
The BDS movement, including PACBI, rejects on principle boycotts of individuals based on their identity (such as citizenship, race, gender, sexuality, or religion) or opinion. This is not a boycott of Israeli artists but of an apartheid state.
We urge all arts organizations, artists, & cultural workers to join us in committing to the Palestinian international call for BDS, & to comply with PACBI.
THREE FIRST-RATE MIND-BENDING GENRE-BUSTING SHOWS FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
Friday July 5 * 7 PM
Dog Scream are a noise/heavy electronics duo from rural Virginia, creating thrift store grand guignol spectacle at bracing volumes.
Earwig Deluxe is a glam-rock crooner mummified in pluff mud about 40 miles northeast of the Morgan Island rhesus monkey colony.
Glowhazel is the solo project of Arlington-based mountain dulcimer player Thiel Secrist, in an attempt to queer the boundaries between traditional music and experimental soundscapes.
Collapsing is the experimental noise project of Paul Keily. Collapsing started in 2014 as a sample and VST mangling side endeavor and coalesced into his main project by 2018.
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Saturday July 6 * 7pm
Jeremy Young - Making use of a sine and square wave oscillator system, analog 1/4" tape and open reel loops, filtered radio and EMF signal, and foley-inspired sound treatments from amplified surfaces and objects, Young's improvisational and compositional techniques are influenced by Cagean aleatoricism as well as haptics-based praxis and deep listening.
Guillermo Pizarro uses field recordings, tapes, harsh noise, synths and ambient textures to achieve his cinematic storytelling through sound.
Moth Bucket: Pennsylvanian electroacoustic free jazz tension.
As Surviving Total centers around the idea of Loss, viewed through a number of different connotations. Examining through the lens of litigious judicial practices, Loss gives a quantitative dollar amount to the damages suffered through personal injury, medical malpractice, negligence, and injury resulting from exposure to toxic substances, among other things.
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Sunday July 7 * 2pm
The Great Blue Heron - large collective ensemble of Philly and DC improvisers: Mg watsun, Jack braunstein, Julius masri, Connor przybyszewski, Sarah Hughes, Nik Francis, Christine Paluch, Zach Dixon, Nappynappa, Josh Hoffman
Nappy Nappa DC MC - 'I want people to see a new sense of self, new ways to get through this life. And that’s it.'
2 Short Films by Qianhui (Joyce) Xu
Sunday July 7 * 7pm * $10-20
We are pleased to welcome filmmaker Qianhui (Joyce) Xu for a screening and in-person Q&A following the films.
“Dongting Village” is an experimental short film about “Passing Time in A Still Space”. The apartment that we filmed is located in Wuhan, China. It has been in use for almost 100 years. Local tycoons in British colonial era, movie stars during World War II, and cleaners under the Cultural Revolution had all lived here, and it is now occupied by an underground artist who makes a living by doing part-time work. The film displays a day of this house in the post-pandemic period. Although everything seems 'normal', the viewer is able to feel the 'time' as it is meant to be, through the information conveys by sound and images. Since Wuhan became notorious worldwide as the outbreak site of Covid, it and its residents have been living in a historical narrative constructed by different political forces. As an independent artist, I wish that I can keep a slice of the real time, history and life.
”500 Miles Away From Home” is a film about love and forgiveness. The two main characters use their own experiences and actions to show us how to heal past wounds and love themselves and each other; how to pick up lost courage, face their mistakes, accept their imperfections, and embrace the challenges of life; and ultimately achieve a real sense of peace and understanding. More than demonstrating clichéd mother-daughter conflicts and family traumas, I am more concerned with bringing bravery and hope to those who are going through or have gone through similar dilemmas.
Jiuying is a talented printmaker grappling with bipolar disorder and financial struggles. As Lunar New Year draws near, Jiuying returns to her hometown, seeking solace and resolution to the emotional turmoil between herself and her mother, Hengpei. Hengpei, a figure fixated on bodybuilding, attempts to bridge the emotional chasm by guiding Jiuying through physical exercise. However, the scars of past mistreatment and control inflicted by Hengpei haunt Jiuying, hindering her from embracing new opportunities. Amidst tearful exchanges...
Aaron Irwin Trio / Dave Ballou For-tet / Simone Baron & Zoe Jorgenson
Wednesday July 3 * 7pm * $15-25
Saxophonist/Clarinetist and Composer AARON IRWIN, Guitarist MIKE BAGGETTA, and Drummer JEFF HIRSHFIELD unite to create a collective musical voice that is direct, honest, and unique. The trio is touring in support of (after) on Adhyâropa Records, a collection of works inspired by poetry. The record draws its title from the practice in poetry of writing new works in conversation with existing works. The music reflects interactions between sound and verse that weave together melancholy, effervescence, and at times, anxiety sparked by chaos. Irwin’s longstanding interest in reading and understanding poetry was given room to breathe during the suddenly virtual world we lived in during COVID. He credits his teachers and classmates (Brooklyn Poets, Gotham Writers) with providing a much-needed outlet and realized the similarities between music and poetry: beyond the cliché, it is another layered world of expression and allows for an entirely different interpretation of emotional range in the attempt to give form to the intangible.
For-tet
Dave Ballou trumpet
John Dierker bass clarinet/ tenor sax
Adam Hopkins bass
Mike Kuhl drums
Simone Baron & Zoe Jorgenson
Simone Baron - accordian / piano
Zoe Jorgenson - bass
On Monday July 1 I will be presenting my new septet in a live recording session at @tonalpark in Takoma Park. The record is called “levitate the heavy part.”
The above video features a remix and mashup of excerpts from two completely different sides of the music, both of which I believe in very much.
Honored that this is going to be co-presented by two organizations I also believe in very much, @transparentdc and @rhizome_dc .
Tickets are fairly affordable and can be had via Rhizome’s website.
If you can’t make it, the record (which is being generously supported in part from the @pgahc ) will be out in a few months.
Lia Kohl + Whitney Johnson / TALsounds / Naoco Wowsugi
Tuesday July 2 * 7pm * $10-25
Outside Time presents...
Lia Kohl and Whitney Johnson began improvising together in Chicago in 2018. What started with free exploration has coalesced in a set of sounds, approaches, and open compositions that take form on an upcoming record on Drag City, set to be released in November 2024.
Natalie Chami (TALsounds) is a Canadian-born Lebanese American musician and educator. Known for her work in drone, ambient, and improvisational music, she has cultivated a distinguished solo career over the past 15 years, crafting a distinctive blend of personal and transporting music.
Naoco Wowsugi is a community-engaged artist who blurs the lines between being an artist and an engaged citizen. As a first-generation immigrant living and working in Washington, DC, Wowsugi's cross-disciplinary projects explore the nature of belonging and inclusive community building. Naoco will present a solo gong performance.
Sam Newsome and Max Johnson
Saturday June 29th * 7pm * $25
Transparent Productions presents Sam Newsome (soprano saxophone, horn preparations, toys) and Max Johnson (double bass).
Please join us for a performance from this amazing duo, touring in support of their new album, “Tubes.”
"Newsome expands the sound of a single soprano into a one-man band." (Mark Corroto, All About Jazz)
“Max Johnson is one of the most prolific and versatile musician/composers in music today” (Brad Cohan, New York City Jazz Record).
The duo of soprano saxophone legend Sam Newsome and double bass virtuoso Max Johnson is a whirlwind of wild sound. Combining their musically diverse backgrounds, these two master improvisers weave a sonic landscape that traverses from beautiful singing melodies to electronic-like drones, psychedelic blasts to the quiet rustling of leaves, all with the sounds of a soprano saxophone and double bass. Come hear these two music makers create an orchestra of sound, as they celebrate their 2024 debut release as a duo, "Tubes", on the Unbroken Sounds label.
Sam Newsome, a versatile soprano saxophonist, music professor, and writer, recently showcased his talents through two notable 2023 duo recordings: Soprano-Logues with Dave Liebman and Cosmic Unconsciousness Unplugged with Jean-Michel Pilc. His significant contributions to the music world have been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Bronx BRIO Award for Instrumental Music and the title of Soprano Saxophonist of the Year in the 14th Annual International Critics Polls. Additionally, he received the 2020 Instant Award in Improvised Music, the 2018 Alpert/Ragdale Prize in Music Composition, and the 2016 NYFA Fellowship for Music Composition, while also being a consistent nominee for Soprano Saxophonist of the Year by the Jazz Journalist Association over the past five years. Alongside his musical endeavors, Newsome is an accomplished author, having penned two books of personal essays and having his work featured in the Bronx Memoir Project Anthology, VII. Known for his avant-garde approach, particularly in prepared saxophone, Newsome has collaborated with numerous musicians, esteemed in the jazz a
Hi guys! We are so stoked to present to you our very first event - “Pour Les Femmes” or “For The Girls”! Join us for the day and enjoy some awesome music, art vendors, thrifting and more! We wanted to create an event run by women/femme individuals for the broader dmv community as a way to celebrate the femininity and support system women/femme presenting people often selflessly provide in every space they inhabit. The event will be at the lovely Rhizome, DC on Saturday, July 13th from 11am-4pm. Buy your tickets in our bio or visit Rhizome’s ig/website! An official vendor/artist list and schedule will be posted soon. Hope to see you there! Much love, the Flowerpot community 🌻 🤍
Experimental Music Workshop with Oswald Berthold - Use Live Data to Control A Patch
Saturday June 29 * 1-5pm * Pay What You Like
PLEASE PRE-REGISTER THANK YOU!
The workshop aims to level up participants’ music-making skills by offering some custom experimental techniques and approaches to be added to their toolbox. The main idea is to look at how to connect your mobile phone or a live robot to your setup and use the incoming data to control your patch. There will be a brief intro to some core concepts, followed by a hands on part that will cater to participants’ particular scenarios.
Requirements: bring a laptop and be able to operate some music software that can handle OSC (open sound control).
For thirty years, Austrian born Oswald Berthold has been making unique contributions in the sphere of art & technology. He is a founder of farmersmanual (1995), a renowned pan-european electronic disturbance conglomerate; co-owner with Florian Hecker of fals.ch (1998), a pioneering online music label, and the musical artists cd_slopper (1999). In 2001 Berthold received an honorary mention in digital musics at the Ars Electronica festival with their project "pxp".
Working increasingly on real-time data-driven generative music in the early 2000s he started specializing in AI and robotics, and went on to earn an MSc. in computer science (2012) and a Ph.D in developmental robotics (2020), both from Humboldt-University of Berlin. As a post-doc project he co-founded the Berlin-based robotics startup Jetpack Cognition Lab in 2019 with fellow roboticist Matthias Kubisch, where they invented and started marketing "flatcat", a one-of-a-kind bio-inspired AI-pet robot (your next robot is a pet).
