The campus community is invited to experience the intersection of visual and performing arts as SUNY Oswego’s Tyler Art Gallery hosts “Performing Art,” an immersive performance directed by visiting artist Liz Dahmen and assistant directed by senior theatre major Ian Katz, on Feb. 20 and 21. 

Developed in collaboration with Tyler Art Gallery Director Davana Robedee and theatre faculty member Steven Mazzoccone, the project brings together a group of students to create a live, visceral response to the current exhibit, “She Is On Her Way.”

Performances will take place at 5 and 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, and 2 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21.

Attendance is free and open to the public, but because space is limited, guests are highly encouraged to reserve spots in advance by registering online.

Breaking boundaries, “Performing Art” invites audiences into a "happening" — an active environment where each moment is unexpected. Through the kaleidoscope of their lived experiences, student performers have devised original stories, songs and movement pieces that interact directly with the artwork on display.

The project aims to widen the shared experience of theatrical and gallery spaces by encouraging artists to explore their creative voices through personal freedom and specificity. In an era dominated by digital algorithms, “Performing Art” serves as a vital reminder of humanity’s innate need for togetherness and communal sharing, organizers said.

As a practice and performance series developed by Dahmen, “Performing Art” has previously been presented at the Dorsky Museum at SUNY New Paltz and the Frances Lehman Loeb Gallery at Vassar College. Dahmen is a theatre artist, teacher, directo, and actor with a deep commitment to training young artists. 

The SUNY Oswego Theatre Department was proud to have Dahmen direct for their 2024-2025 mainstage production of “John Proctor is the Villain.”

Junior theatre major Roni Smith says the process of working with Dahmen has been “nothing short of magical. Every rehearsal gives me a new and intense appreciation for art, my friends and myself. Liz is such a creative person, and being able to make art with her has given me so much confidence and love for the act of creation.”

This project and Dahmen’s residency are sponsored by ARTSwego, the Art and Design Department, and the Theatre Department.