[NEohioPAL] “The Wall” explores isolation, self-discovery, and fear around the metaphorical barriers created during COVID-19

[Ray Caspio]

For more information contact:

Ray Caspio

raycaspio at gmail.com



PRESS RELEASE



“The Wall” explores isolation, self-discovery, and fear

around the metaphorical barriers created during COVID-19

Cleveland-based performance artist Ray Caspio’s “The Wall” reveals the
artist’s inner

struggles in quarantine while challenging participants to confront barriers
constructed by

society and self.

Cleveland (March 31, 2023) – Isolation. Fear. Mortality. As a global
society, we faced these challenges head-on during the early days of the
COVID-19 Pandemic. While these are universal concerns, the pandemic only
further separated society - creating walls between each other and within
ourselves. Cleveland-based performance artist Ray Caspio explores these
themes in “The Wall,” a portrait of self, society, and confronting hidden
truths, in which the artist dissolves their walls through visual art and
durational performance.

“The Wall” is centered around a 6’4” x 6’4” wall of text from Caspio’s
studio composed of automatic writings recorded during their 18-month
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 space and performance will evolve throughout the seven-week process,”
said Caspio. “It will be an organic performance as I respond to who and
what is in the space each time, culminating in a nine-hour performance to
close the installation."

WHEN/WHERE:

Performances: Fridays, April 14, 21, 28, May 5, May 12, May 19, 6-9 p.m.;
and Saturday, May 27, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

1300 Gallery at 78th Street Studios, 1300 W. 78th Street, Ste. 101,
Cleveland

Performances are ticketed and Pay-What-You-Can, with a suggestion of $25
via https://www.raycaspio.com/thewall.

Free, limited parking is available onsite. N95, KN95, or surgical masks are
required at all performances. Ages 18+ due to subject matter.

Created, designed, written, and performed by Ray Caspio, with space
construction by Bobby Ayala Perez, “The Wall” brings the story to life
through paintings, audio, video, and automatic and homoerotic drawings,
with performance uniting all of the elements. Those present are encouraged
to witness, reflect and leave their mark on the space.

“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.

About Ray Caspio:

Ray Caspio (b. 1979, they/he) is a performance and conceptual artist,
painter, and teaching artist. Their art is one of exposure. Caspio creates
atmospheric works ranging from confessional to comedic in an inquiry into
memory, Queer identity, loss, the grotesque of society, and profound
emotion. They possess a visceral vulnerability and irreverent humor that
opens an authentic conduit between the artist and their audience
collaborators. Their performances have been recognized as “magical” and
“intensely honest and unflinching,” with Ray being called “a shapeshifter”
and “one [person] tour de force.” Caspio’s creations have been performed at
The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), BorderLight Fringe, Theater Ninjas, and
Cleveland Public Theatre’s Pandemonium. Caspio’s work appeared on “Best of”
lists for Scene Magazine and WCPN’s The Sound of Applause. Ray was profiled
by Scene as “The Thespian'' of 2014. Caspio founded Michael Chekhov Center
Cleveland to share their understanding of Chekhov’s psychophysical
performance principles with Northeast Ohio artists. Ray received a 2016
Creative Workforce Fellowship for their performance work. Through the
revealing of cathartic truths of their inner life, Caspio inspires the
questions: Who am I? Who are you? Who are we? What is this space we
inhabit, together? And what does it mean to be alive?

About Ohio City Theatre Project:

Actively involved in the Cleveland area since 2012, Ohio City Theatre
Project (OCTP) strives to create world class theatrical experiences that
are experienced intellectually and touch the heart. OCTP uses creative
innovation to drive civic dialog about contemporary issues and connects
with regional partners to develop synergistic opportunities for local
artists to produce new theatrical work and impactful education programs.

OCTP is led by Executive Artistic Director Pandora Robertson. OCTP has
produced the premieres of new works by Northeast Ohio artists, which
include the film But to work! (2021) as well as the plays Central Concern
(2019 premiere, 2022 Borderlight Festival Producer’s Choice Award),
Incendiaries
(2016 premiere, 2018 Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award for
playwriting), Snake Oil (2015), Free Radical and The Late Night
Sketchbook (2014),
Summer Storefront (2013), Living Storefront: A Night of New Theatre (2012),
as well as productions of Eugène Ionesco’s The Bald Soprano (2013) and Matt
Larsen’s Kid Mystery (2012).

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-- 
James Kopniske
Freelance Writer
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