(a talk circle guided by Carole McCurdy)
Berger Park Cultural Center
6205 N Sheridan Road, Chicago IL
Fall Sessions
Wednesday, November 5 from 4-6 PM
Wednesday, November 12 from 4-6 PM
Wednesday, November 19 from 4-6 PM
We all own physical items—clothing, photographs, mementos, to name a few—that we aren't sure what to do with. We may no longer use or even see them on a regular basis. Some may feel burdensome and hard to think about.
This is an invitation to talk about such items, to think aloud about what you want or need to keep . . . and what you want or need to let go of.
Our supportive talk circle will encourage discussion of:
- things that hold stories about you or loved ones;
- things that you’ve intended to sift through (and maybe discard) for a long time, but it’s been too overwhelming;
- things that you absolutely need to hold on to, or save for others;
- things that are hiding away in storage, and who even knows what they are;
- things that you’ve already discarded, and how you managed it.
The goal is to share our experiences and ideas without any judgment, advice, or insistence on solutions. Talking and listening together may help us find our individual solutions at our own pace. In other words, no pressure! If you can, please bring an item you’d like to talk about, or a photo of it. If you have questions, please reach out to us!
Carole McCurdy is a Chicago-based artist whose work addresses grief and anxiety, duty and resistance, and the absurd mysteries of embodiment. She has performed at spaces including the Chicago Cultural Center, Epiphany Dance, Links Hall, Hamlin Park, High Concept Laboratories, Defibrillator Gallery, and Movement Research (NY). She received a 2016 Lab Artist award from the Chicago Dancemakers Forum and was a Fall 2016 Sponsored Artist at High Concept Laboratories, Chicago. She created and directed an ensemble piece, WAVER, with support from Chicago Dancemakers Forum, High Concept Labs, and 3Arts Chicago. Recently, she created Just Passing Through (2022) and Death Cleaning (2024) at Roman Susan. For more information, please visit carolemccurdy.com.
These events are being shared at Berger Park Cultural Center as part of Movement Studies – a programming series investigating social and environmental transitions. This project is partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency; CityArts grants from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; Reva and David Logan Foundation; and Teiger Foundation; as well as in-kind support from Chicago Park District.